email hijacked?

D

David

Help! Periodically when I start-up outlook to check
email, outlook will indicate that it is sending email even
though I don't have email to send. The emails don't show
up in the 'sent items' folder and i'm haven't been able to
stop the emails to check what they are before they go
out. I have received one or two email failure replies
with content that I clearly didn't send.

I think it's been hijacked, but haven't been able to
locate the culprit with several spyware and security
products (ad-aware, spybot, norton). Checked for mydoom
and not infected (i think). Any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
M

Munchichic

All too often spyware and adware programs create additional
programs that install without your knowledge and they are
the problem. I've had this happen myself previously. You'll
notice these when you go into Control Panel and then
Add/Remove programs (Windows) and see some items there you
didn't install. Also, it could be a virus since this also
is extremely common with viruses. Someone can steal your
password and then set up your account to send out tons of
email which claim to have been sent from YOU, but you had
nothing to do with it. This is how they get your password,
by having it emailed to them. I would update your virus
protection software and run a full scan and also check for
any programs that you did not install voluntarily. A lot of
spyware and even file sharing softwares (like Morpheus)
will automatically install 3rd party spyware software
without your knowledge or consent. This may very well be
the problem. Until you can find the problem and remove it,
I suggest not using Outlook as you're only going to
continue run into the same issues every time.
 
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