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Re: Sent messages from my Hotmail Account

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N. Miller

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Apr 8, 2009, 9:51:37 PM4/8/09
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On Wed, 8 Apr 2009 14:32:04 -0700, Cindy Guthrie wrote:

> Today at 2:19, a message was sent to ALL of my Contacts, as well as anyone I
> have ever sent an email to from my Hotmail account. I was NOT in my email
> when this happened. I have NOT sent an email today.
>
> What happened?

If you haven't changed your password, you had better do so right now. Use as
long a password as Hotmail allows; 16 characters should do it. If your
account has been compromised, they might lock you out, soon.

And next time, when you get that email from Hotmail claiming that you will
lose your account if you don't submit your login details within 24 hours,
ignore it. Hotmail does not send such notices.

--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum

...winston

unread,
Apr 9, 2009, 2:41:19 AM4/9/09
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Usually the most common occurrences of this symptom.

a. you email address has been harvested and used by spammers to send email as if sent from your address. Usually accomplished by
forging an emails headers with your address. It does not necessarily mean it was sent from your Hotmail account(this can occur from
use of your real email address on the internet, in newsgroups, clicking on links in unsolicited email, clicking on a link to
unsubscribe in an unsolicited email, etc. the list goes on).

b. someone else's system was compromised and their address book with your email address and all other addresses was harvested by a
virus or worm for use as sending spam

c. your system was compromised similar to (b)

d. your Hotmail account was compromised.

You can't do much about (a), (b) once it has occurred...its too late or out of your control.
For (c) you can scan your system with a good AV program and recommended anti-malware program(Malwarebytes Antimalware,
SUPERAntiSpyware, HiJackThis) and determine if you are compromised at further risk.
For (d) and as insurance since it has already occurred change your password immediately by logging in at account.live.com, ensure
you use a strong password, and just as important ensure you have entered an alternate email address and secret question/answer.


--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"Cindy Guthrie" <Cindy Gut...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BF6E72CC-6AE3-46E7...@microsoft.com...

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