on the matter of your e-mail being hijacked, and used to spam others:
unfortunately, this is a rather common "feature" of several "worms" (viruses), that usually are "transmitted" via messenger-type and/or e-mail programs. Here's what happens:
SOMEONE'S machine ---
not necessarily yours --- gets "infected" with the worm. the worm will scan that PC for e-mail addresses (e.g., it looks for address books). Then, the worm will start spamming --- trying to spread itself --- by sending out e-mails TO each person in the address book,
forging ("hijacking" to use your term) things to appear
as if it were being sent from other addresses in the address book! So any acquaintance of yours (friend, relative, business associate) whose machine "knows" your e-mail address, can be an (unintentional) source of this spamming :smileysad: [Yes, it could also be your machine... but the point is, it doesn't have to be]. And if this worm is on someone else's machine, unless/until
they discover and remove it, you'll have no control over your e-address being "hijacked".
Thank you so much for the great information! I have fixed my internet access problem, but am still getting periodic "returned spam emails". Is there anything in particular that I should do about this? I have ran the Norton Antispyware, Antivirus, and Internet Security programs and everything came up clean. Please let me know if there is something else I should try.
as long as you've tested your machine (which was a POSSIBLE source, IF infected), and determined that it's "clean" of viruses (per Norton), i'm not sure if there's anything else you can do on YOUR system... especially if, as i've explained, the worm could be lurking on someone else's system. the only thing i can suggest is if maybe you sense a pattern to the people allegedly being spammed by you... for example, do you see a pattern of friends, relatives, work colleagues, or etc? if so, you might be able to try narrow things down and pin-point which person has the infected machine.
Post Script: the only other thing I can think of [beside a worm forging your e-mail] is if someone who has a grudge against you, AND who has access to your e-mail account (i.e., knows your password), is maliciously/intentionally sending out spam using your account, specifically to create trouble for you.
Your problem sounds identical to mine. I had been using Norton Internet Security and upgraded to their Norton Internet Security with spyware.
I am also unable to access the internet except under two conditions. One, I must configure Norton to a manual start. After a cold reboot, I am then able to to access the internet. Once I start Norton Internet Security I am blocked again.
It appears that the block is with my web browser, Internet explorer. As both my banking program and the Norton Internet automatic updates can access the internet. E-mail also works.
I have tried turning off all of the features of the program but it just won't let me use internet explorer. It won't even let me talk to my router!
My recommendation--don't buy the spyware until they fix the problem or tell us how to fix the problem. Norton's help does not provide a solution. You may also wish to uninstall the program.
ky331
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15.6K Posts
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August 29th, 2005 11:00
boots1272
2 Posts
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September 2nd, 2005 20:00
Thank you so much for the great information! I have fixed my internet access problem, but am still getting periodic "returned spam emails". Is there anything in particular that I should do about this? I have ran the Norton Antispyware, Antivirus, and Internet Security programs and everything came up clean. Please let me know if there is something else I should try.
Thank you again for all of your help!
amy
ky331
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15.6K Posts
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September 2nd, 2005 21:00
Message Edited by ky331 on 09-02-2005 08:02 PM
blue olds
1 Message
0
October 7th, 2005 23:00
Boots1272
Your problem sounds identical to mine. I had been using Norton Internet Security and upgraded to their Norton Internet Security with spyware.
I am also unable to access the internet except under two conditions. One, I must configure Norton to a manual start. After a cold reboot, I am then able to to access the internet. Once I start Norton Internet Security I am blocked again.
It appears that the block is with my web browser, Internet explorer. As both my banking program and the Norton Internet automatic updates can access the internet. E-mail also works.
I have tried turning off all of the features of the program but it just won't let me use internet explorer. It won't even let me talk to my router!
My recommendation--don't buy the spyware until they fix the problem or tell us how to fix the problem. Norton's help does not provide a solution. You may also wish to uninstall the program.
Blue Olds