Getting fake emails from friends

haha yeah my cousin's email continues to send me links to 'health-slimming berries' and 'viagra' and at first I was like 'wtf' :tongue:

he doesn't even know it keeps sending them, I keep meaning to bring it up in conversation but I forget lol. just delete them straightaway I would.

Reply 7

OP

Original post by Doubledog

change your operating system to linux to avoid a virus
download linux mint ; it's very easy to use and free.

what is linux
Does anybody else recommend it,the problem is that I did click.AVG didn t say anything though.
what should I do,restore to an earlier date?

Reply 8

Wookie42

Original post by Doubledog

change your operating system to linux to avoid a virus
download linux mint ; it's very easy to use and free.

Yes, you can't really get viruses, however running linux won't stop your mail inbox from getting spammed, bit of a facepalm really since your emails are stored on a server somewhere until you download them. That said, linux ftw...anyway.

OP: It doesn't mean your friends are hacked as such, just that their email address is being used for spoofing - yes they should change their password, but its probably best to just get a new account. If I were you I'd tell them to get new addresses and set the old ones to be put straight into the junk folder so you don't get spammed as much.

EDIT: I should have read the whole thread. Don't start thinking this is a virus on your computer. Yes, it is possible that you could get hijacked too, but not simply because your friends are hacked.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 9

OP

Also Maleware Bytes Anti Malware is asking me to download a new version
It says :
"The current dadtabase is not supported by this version" when I try to open it.
I just updated & did a scan yesterday wtf?

Reply 10

SpiritedAway

17

I asked about this yesterday because my account keeps sending these emails. It's a virus.

Reply 11

OP

stupid question but what does ftw stand for?

Reply 12

Kenny_uk

Original post by hissyfit

what is linux
Does anybody else recommend it,the problem is that I did click.AVG didn t say anything though.
what should I do,restore to an earlier date?

Linux is a different operating system, with hundreds of variations of it.

Reply 13

Doubledog

8

Original post by hissyfit

what is linux
Does anybody else recommend it,the problem is that I did click.AVG didn t say anything though.
what should I do,restore to an earlier date?

http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php
You need to download the iso file and burn a dvd from it.
Then you can try it out as a live cd before installing it/commiting to it.
You can also install it to dual boot so you can choose windows or linux when you start your pc.
I use the live dvd for internet banking because there is zero chance of a virus.
Mint comes with its own firewall and if you're really paranoid you can install a free anti virus prog, but most people think its unnecessary with linux.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 14

Wookie42

Seriously, why is everyone telling the OP to install a linux distro? It won't help them stopping the spam from coming through. With respect telling a windows user to install linux when they have no idea what linux is or how it works is just stupid. They'll install it, then cry when they can't run office/itunes/etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm a linux fan, but seriously!?

OP: ftw means 'for the win' i.e YAY ITS GOOD. If you've scanned with AVG and mbites just leave it. I seriously doubt you've got a virus unless you've opened up the content within the emails - opening the email is probably fine, but if you've clicked links its a different story. Don't worry!

Whoever negged me: Why?!

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 15

OP

Original post by Wookie42

Yes, you can't really get viruses, however running linux won't stop your mail inbox from getting spammed, bit of a facepalm really since your emails are stored on a server somewhere until you download them. That said, linux ftw...anyway.

OP: It doesn't mean your friends are hacked as such, just that their email address is being used for spoofing - yes they should change their password, but its probably best to just get a new account. If I were you I'd tell them to get new addresses and set the old ones to be put straight into the junk folder so you don't get spammed as much.

EDIT: I should have read the whole thread. Don't start thinking this is a virus on your computer. Yes, it is possible that you could get hijacked too, but not simply because your friends are hacked.

thanks ,I have sent one of them an email & told her to tell the other girl as I can t email her..
Any chance you can tell me how to put those email addresses from contacts ,so that I get emails from them in my junk folder.Thanks
I have hotmail btw.
Another question,if you have n email address that is random (not a name) smething like x.y @ hotmail.com & has a long password does that help security wise?

Reply 16

Mally-xo

Original post by hissyfit

stupid question but what does ftw stand for?

for the win :biggrin:

as in 'Wagner ftw on x-factor' (so depressed he has gone haha)

also about your malware antibytes thingy, I have that program, is SO good, manages to get rid of all my viruses (I seem to get a lot, I don't know why) that McAfee don't. it has to be updated regularly in order to keep up with the different Trojans out there!

Reply 17

Wookie42

Original post by hissyfit

thanks ,I have sent one of them an email & told her to tell the other girl as I can t email her..
Any chance you can tell me how to put those email addresses from contacts ,so that I get emails from them in my junk folder.Thanks
I have hotmail btw.
Another question,if you have n email address that is random (not a name) smething like x.y @ hotmail.com & has a long password does that help security wise?

Open up the email(s) in question, and at the top you should see this:

Click the "junk" link and it'll mark the sender as unsafe. You only need to do this once for each sender however, don't go through every email that they've sent!

Doesn't really matter about the address of the email since anyone can find that out without much trouble, but a long password is the best you can do. Try including numbers, UPPER and lower case letters, and if hotmail let you get a random symbol in there.

For example, a strong password is something like: 9kAeV$l23x

Reply 18

OP

Original post by Mally-xo

for the win :biggrin:

as in 'Wagner ftw on x-factor' (so depressed he has gone haha)

also about your malware antibytes thingy, I have that program, is SO good, manages to get rid of all my viruses (I seem to get a lot, I don't know why) that McAfee don't. it has to be updated regularly in order to keep up with the different Trojans out there!

the thing is that I just updated it yesterday & all of a sudden it asks me to download a new version,as in dowload it again :confused:

Did you get the same thing when you click on the red icon?

Reply 19

Lozza_00