posted on March 8, 2006 08:03:28 AM
This post has a short version and a long version. I will start with the short for anyone in a hurry and because I would like advice as quickly as possible.
Short version: I remember a past thread about intrenet sites that will check a Windows computer for virus and other malware online. Can someone please recommend and give me a link to a reliable one? I want to have my sister check her computer ASAP!
Long version: If you have the time to read more I would like advice on likely scenarios.
This morning I got one of those "Question from eBay Member" emails that we get every day. This was the same old same old about a 1915 Amatuer SG Photo BATON ROUGE LA. Capitol Bldg that I had not paid for. I have gotten the exact same content before and just dumped it along with the questions about items I am not selling. Just before I hit delete I saw (HORROR!) that the "From" line had my sister's email address!
From: eBay Member: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Now I am worried. Has anyone else had this happen? Have you had a spoof with an address known to you in the from line? It does not seem possible that out of all the great world of spoof addresses a spammer would just happen to use hers.
Could it mean that we are both in the same address book on an infected computer? There would be only a few possibilities of that since there is only a small amount of overlap in the people we correspond with.
I am sure it is not from me because I am on a Macintosh. Before all the Windows loyalists point out the recent news stories that suggest (with great glee) that there might now be Mac malware programs - read behind the stories and you will find that these are possible treats and have not been found "in the wild".
It seems to me the most likely cause is that she has something evil on her Windows computer. I called her and she is not running up to date anti virus software. She is computer challenged and I don't know if I can talk her through downloading and installing software. I am going to try to get one of her sons to come over and help but that might take some time. What are the reliable online sites to check her computer that she can use?
Thanks a lot for any observations or suggestions.
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“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
[ edited by photosensitive on Mar 8, 2006 08:04 AM ]
posted on March 8, 2006 08:24:29 AM
I use Ad-Aware SE Personal, and run it every night before logging off. The download is free. You might want to try it...
You might also want to run your computer through PCPitStop for a check-up. I do this about once a month for computer health. It will let you know if your security is up-to-par.
You will need to register, but the testing is free.
I just installed a newer version (paid for) of Norton, then my ISP tech told me there was another that was better and not so cumbersome as Norton. "Trend/Tread..something". Bet someone else can help you with that...
posted on March 8, 2006 08:28:46 AM
The spammers using someones e-mail address in the from line is very common. You don't have a virus. They simply had their e-mail tell your e-mail that it was from your sister. The scammers are looking for you to respond and steal your info.
Just delete the e-mail before any real harm comes about. Then let your sister know just so she is aware. Not much else you can do except let the scammers do there thing and they will move on.
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Many misleading tricks in 2006. The new Demomoron slogan.
I never had the spammer go into my email address book and get an address for the from line. Is this a new tactic? I have had spam in the past with a friend's address in the from line and it was true that their computer was infected.
That is the reason I am concerned about my sister's computer and looking for the quickest and easiest way to have her check it.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on March 8, 2006 08:56:40 AM
Your sister has a virus or worm that is replicating itself and sending itself to everyone in her address book. You are not the only one who got that same email. Have her log onto www.trendmicro.com and run their free "Housecall" scan. Also, have her dump Norton and get an AV program that will detect and remove viruses, not just quarantine them. Trendmicro has a program called Pcillin that is excellent. There are a few ISP's that offer McAfee free to their subscribers (AOL, Comcast, etc.) Get a program that will download updates automatically, as soon as they become available.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
They didn't get it from your e-mail. That is not what I said at all.
It is basically a total coincidence that it was your sisters e-mail. There is no virus. They got the e-mail address simply from an e-mail she sent or gave her e-mail address out and are now using it for the from to address.
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Many misleading tricks in 2006. The new Demomoron slogan.
