Kin emails, HELP PLEASE

[a4gom]

Yesterday morning when I got to work I had 726 emails in my inbox when I checked my personal email via the web.

The emails came from about 5 different email addresses each email address had sent the same email say 160 times at exactley the same date n time. It was the same this morning.

The email addresses have been non descript things like webmaster@hotmail.com, office@fbi.org, webmaster@funcards.com.

There was only one email address which I recognised yesterday and it was the first one which was Mikes from MAPhotographics? (I have emailed mike but had no response)

Today the only one I recognised was from myself??? It wasn't from me as I would have never chosen the word used in front of the @.

Anyone know how I can stop them?

I very rarely give out my personal address, usually use my works address. To my knowledge the only place my address is in the public domain is on this site.

Recently I have only been using the address via the web rather than outlook at home so I don't think I can have a virus or anything?

Any ideas please? its a bit annoying having to delete 700+ emails to get to the ones I want to see.

Edited to add they all contain a small zip file which I have never opened, the title of the file does vary but is always the same size.

The title of the emails vary but are things like

'Your IP address was logged', 'SMTP mail failed', 'mail_delivery_failed', 'registration confirmed'

[Mike H]

I very rarely give out my personal address, usually use my works address. To my knowledge the only place my address is in the public domain is on this site.

Don't forget you've also given it to everyone you've ever emailed.  Each one of those could have copied it to their address/contacts list which leaves it open to potential abuse if they haven't got decent or up to date antivirus software.

Mike

[a4gom]

Its a fair point Mike bit how do I stop it?

I've just received another 76 from postman@aol.com with a title of 'your password'

Contents shown below

Account and Password Information are attached!

***** Go to: http://www.aol.com

***** Email: postman@aol.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

reg_pass.zip 54.2 kb

[studbuckle]

sounds to me like somebody who has your name in their outlook address book has been infected with a virus that may or may not be malicious. Normally they use the address book as a distribution list to send themselves on. Other than deleting them, there's not a lot yuo can do unless you're prepared to contact your ISP and have all mail dropped.

[oioi]

my work email (and everybody who works here! is getting lots of those - not as many as you tho.  I think its the something or other worm.

[a4gom]

There was only one email address which I recognised yesterday and it was the first one which was Mikes from MAPhotographics? (I have emailed mike but had no response)

Perhaps Mike has it and that may be why he hasn't replied to my mail?

(Edited to say not replied because perhaps he is trying to sort the problem not because he did it maliciously. Just re read my post it didn't sound very friendly.)

Having said that surely he will have loads of people's address off here in his address box?

I get loads at work but not duplicated hundreds of times, they are usually selling software, watches or viagra??

I can cope with them its about 6 or 7 a day.

[melt]

I have had two of these emails over the last couple of days.  My Norton Internet Security system has been deleting them as it says that they contain a virus.  The virus appears to be W32.Sober.X@mm and W32.Sober.X@mm!zip.  

If you do a search for that name on the Symantec (Norton) site it gives your more info.

HTH

Mel

[a4gom]

I have had two of these emails over the last couple of days.  My Norton Internet Security system has been deleting them as it says that they contain a virus.  The virus appears to be W32.Sober.X@mm and W32.Sober.X@mm!zip.  

If you do a search for that name on the Symantec (Norton) site it gives your more info.

HTH

Mel

Thanks i'll have a look, I've only checked my mail via my works pc via web access since they started to prevent them getting into my p.c. at home. I have norton at home so it should sort them but just to be safe.

[Arm]

I've been getting same and Avast has picked them up. The E mail addresses look like people from this site and therefore I take it someone from the site has this virus

[Mike H]

Yes that 'sober' thing appears to be doing the rounds.  I've just checked our mail server at work and several have been removed that carried this.

Mike

[Mark B]

Snap I've been getting 6 - 10 of these a day but the filter has picked them up & junked them, one looked like a board members name but didn't appear correct. Has tinternet got a cold?  

These bl**** computer thingys will never catch on you know......  

[steppenwolf]

I'm getting them too but BT are killing the virus before it reaches me and advising me that they have done it!

This is what I get from BT:-

Virus warning from BT Business

This message contained a computer virus which has been detected and removed by the BT Business Email Virus Filter to avoid infecting your computer.  

You may wish to contact the sender of this email requesting they remove any virus infection from their PC before re-sending the email and any attachment to you, virus-free.

Attachment: mail.zip

Problem: virus infected W32/Sober-Z

Action taken: deleted

Any original text can be seen below.  If this is blank no text was supplied.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

SMTP_Error []

I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message.

This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

The full mail-text and header is attached!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Virus warning from BT Business

This message contained a computer virus which has been detected and removed by the BT Business Email Virus Filter to avoid infecting your computer.  

You may wish to contact the sender of this email requesting they remove any virus infection from their PC before re-sending the email and any attachment to you, virus-free.

Attachment: mail.zip

Problem: virus infected W32/Sober-Z

Action taken: deleted

[gordonandmaureen]

have you tried changing your internet log in password?? after which you should delete all these e mails without opening them

you could also try putting all your address book on to a flopy or disc then deleting it at least the virus wont be able to send iself to anyone else after which you can reinstate it if things are ok.Sounds a nasty one. Dont open any e mail unless you are sure who it is from good luck.

[Chris_G]

Andy,

I've had some major Spam issues in the past as well!

This is how I get round it:

Set up a free email account with 'Wanadoo'

Wanadoo have a free spam filtering service which you can also customise to allow some emails through that you want and block others that you don't.

Now you can set your new Wanadoo account to check your original email account within the options section.

All spam email now gets re-directed to your online junk mail folder which you need never see  (you do need to go through it every now and again to check the filters are not being a bit too agressive this is needed less frequently as your customised settings take effect)

You now just check your new email address.

This has certainly made my email a lot friendlier!

HTH

Chris

[Martin Keene]

I've been getting a few with very similar subject headings as well, as with Steppenwolf, BT is jumping on them even before they reach me.

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