Anyone familiar with this virus?

[pubstud]

In my hotmail account I keep getting (and sending) emails from friends in my contacts list, with headings like "amazing!" "wooow!" "check this" "very good"

 

When the email is opened there's a large blue underlined message: Click here to read this message

 

When I check my Sent Folder I find loads of emails been sent out to my contacts that I never sent. So it's some virus that is doing this automatically.

 

Does anybody know what this is and how to fix it? I have formated my HDD a couple of times but it continues.

[Edge]

Can't ID the virus from that, but my daughters had something which did the same a few years back.

I didn't clink on the link though.

I had to get help from Major Geek to clear theirs in the end, but they won't help anyone who goes on dodgy sites any more.

 

Which Anti-Virus etc are you using?

 

Sounds like you need to do a scan with one of those search & destroy progs, but I forget names.

 

Strange that it's still there after you reformat?

[pubstud]

Can't ID the virus from that, but my daughters had something which did the same a few years back.

I didn't clink on the link though.

I had to get help from Major Geek to clear theirs in the end, but they won't help anyone who goes on dodgy sites any more.

 

Which Anti-Virus etc are you using?

 

Sounds like you need to do a scan with one of those search & destroy progs, but I forget names.

 

Strange that it's still there after you reformat?

 

I use Avast free AV, which updates automatically several times a day. Plus I also got PC THreatFire, which also auto updates daily. A friend said it could be in Hotmail itself, in which case their techs may need to fix it. I think I'll contact support and see what they say.

[pubstud]

Just copied my post above and sent it to the Hotmail support team. Hopefully they can knock it out. I'll let you know their reply.

[Droppinfuknloads]

I use a paid service for my internet protection(Norton), I've never had a problem and I go to a ton of sketchy porn sites. I recommend getting a paid one. Just my opinion though.

[devee8]

Yes paying for a good anti virus is like having a good condom

[jojomecanic]

Avast works just great. No need to pay for anything else.

 

If you have formated your harddrive and using the webmail hotmail, then the virus has probably nothing to do with your computer, but more on your account.

Did you change your password ? (your hotmail password)

Some server could be using your account for spam through a POP3 service with your password.

[PH Lodge]

this is a very old virus, has been going around for at least 5 years. what it does(from my understanding) it starts to send spam from your account to everyone in your address book.

 

it does not do any other harm, just the silly spam emails.

 

i do not believe paid anti virus can remove it, you would need to run malware removal program

 

here you will find answer on how to remove it

http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic58138.html

 

http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic144660.html

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_7267370_remove-hotmail-virus.html

[vbbitter]

mine is also a vey old virus that has been around a long time also, im only an expert on gonnococal viruses if you ever need my help

[petermik]

Not true-Microsoft Security Essentials is FREE and excellent.

[pubstud]

mine is also a vey old virus that has been around a long time also, im only an expert on gonnococal viruses if you ever need my help

 

No you're not an expert, there's no such thing as gonnococal (sic) viruses

 

gonococal infections are bacterial not viral

[pubstud]

Not true-Microsoft Security Essentials is FREE and excellent.

 

Yes, I used to use that and believed it was excellent. Then someone talked me out of it and into Avast, maybe I should have stayed with MSE.

[vbbitter]

No you're not an expert, there's no such thing as gonnococal (sic) viruses

 

gonococal infections are bacterial not viral

yes sorry i am not a expert but a victim

[pubstud]

yes sorry i am not a expert but a victim

 

Good on ya mate, and crack a cold VB for me OK? Lovely drop, also Melbourne Bitter, another lovely brew.

[dave-]

I have just had a similar problem on yahoo mail. i access my mail through windows live mail, same as outlook.

 

The spam mail was going to all the people in my yahoo address book so i deleted these as i have them all in the windows live address book, this sorted it.

[pubstud]

I got a reply from the MSN techs, they suggest I change my password, I have done that but don't think it's that simple, it's a virus/robot or some such thing. I don't really want to delete my addresses as I use them when I chat via Messenger Live Essentials.

[Brianrich1]

I use mcafee. Never had a problem. Why take the chance. 40 USD a year not a lot to stay virus free. I wish staying away from all viruses were that easy

[pubstud]

But this doesn't seem to be a virus on my computer as I've nuked the HDD a couple times since it started, seems it's in Hotmail, or else I keep getting reinfected by the same crappy emails bouncing back to me. Like if your GF gives you the clap and you have the VD treatment and then go bang your GF again. That might be what's going on here.

[Brianrich1]

Yeah I think someone hacked your email. I had this happen to my yahoo email. Very easy to fix of u can get into your account. Login and change your password of you can. If not logout on the account and reset it. This should fix the problem

[pubstud]

Yeah I think someone hacked your email. I had this happen to my yahoo email. Very easy to fix of u can get into your account. Login and change your password of you can. If not logout on the account and reset it. This should fix the problem

 

OK I done that, have now changed my password. So have to wait and see if it ever happens again. It didn't happen all the time just now and then.

[xerive]

1 - eset smart security (paid for)

2 - spybot search and destroy (free)

3 - malwarebytes (free)

 

These three programs = no viruses

[theanomaly]

Sounds like you were hacked, but if you change your password, make sure its a strong password with alphanumerics and symbols if Hotmail allows it (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, special chars).

 

I don't particularly like Hotmail, I prefer to be spied on by Google instead. I use a paid AV called Kaspersky too which is very effective preventing viruses. The other software people have mentioned are very good too, but it might be worth running CCleaner as well to clean up any files.

[nomen1]

Because you formatted your HDD and the issue is still happening, it looks like you some malware/bot on the web has your email address and your contacts too and is spamming out emails with them. If hotmail can't sort this you may want to think about getting a new email address, its a pain but may be the fix.