Rick Hesel

I just downloaded my email from the office and discovered 6 different messages to me with my own email address. The messages were from porn, drug, and other spam vendors. I hae no idea what I can do about this, and the idea that my address is going all over the place with these messages is appalling.

Anybody know what I can do or what protections I can take? And how does this work? Has a virus hijacked my address?

MsPerky

Well, you need to get in touch with your email provider and determine what spam filters they have. I get those emails fairly often on my aol email address. It is very hard for providers to protect against them because they are so fluid - when you block one, another one pops up. And most of them originate from hackers overseas. Not sure what you can do really. It's a big, big problem.

EDIT: I may have misinterpreted what you said. Are you saying you have evidence that those kinds of emails are going to others with your address as the sender?? I haven't heard about that...much more serious problem.

ralper

Rick

If you received e-mails sent from your own address book you may have a computer virus. I would strongly suggest that you scan your computer(s) using one of the anti-virus programs currently available. You should download the latest definitions.

You should also probably scan your computer for spyware and remove it. You can download an excellent program "Ad Aware" for free and do this. Elliminating some of the spyware might help to elliminate some of the "spam" email that you are receiving. To download Ad Aware do a search for Ad Aware and that will direct you to one of the providers such as PC Magazine.

You might also want to download an excellent, and free, firewall "Zone Alert". Again, do a search for "Zone Alert". This is a very good piece of software.

I get 30 to 40 spam e-mails at work every day. Its to the point that I don't let my clients e-mail me anything because I generally just delete most everything in my work mailbox. It's sometimes hard to tell the difference between real and spam.

You should also follow Debs suggestion and find out if your provider has any spam filters in place.

matrix

Everything above plus you can build a filter based on the sender's email address and delete them before you even see them.

Stratocaster

Rick, You have e-mail

matrix

BTW, I sent you an email....it's not junk!

PortugueseS2K

I hate that! Same has happened to me on occasion

Luft46

Rick, you may be a victim of email "spoofing". That is, someone else's computer has a virus and also has your email address, then sends out emails using your email address as the sender. There is not a lot you can do about it, but check out these URLs for help....

http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/email_spoofing.html
http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/answers...2566233,00.html

paS2K

My McAfee anti-virus program on the home email also has a Spam Filter option at addl cost. I haven't been bothered much, so I haven't bought it (yet).

Funny thing....I AM getting spam from my former office email address, which is being forwarded to me as a courtesy. I don't think that is opening up my home email to spam, but who knows for sure

Rick Hesel

I think I''ve been spoofed, as Luft 46 suggests. I had no more incidents today, so hopefully it's gone away for now.