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Strange emails from Hotmail, MSN, Yahoo users

Lots of people have recently fallen victim to a computer virus, which then uses the member's contact lists from Hotmail or MSN or Yahoo to send copies of itself to all the contacts.

The infected messages say several different one-line messages asking the recipient to click on it. Such as
<recipient name> Click to View Message
<recipient name> Click to View Video
Click here to read this message

Etc.

Even though the emails come from someone you know, it is VERY important that you DO NOT CLICK on one of these messages or you too will get infected.

If someone tells you that you have been infected or hacked you should immediately run a FULL scan with a trusted good ant-virus program such as the microsoft one:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/products/security-essentials

And then immediately afterwards change your email password, and make sure it is a BETTER one (use at least TWO words joined together not just one word.).

Further details are at this Hotmail link.

http://windowslivehelp.com/solution.aspx?solutionid=1fe6ed3e-eef6-4c57-933f-f3c408f1c5c1

In this case it is type 2 problem on that page.

Here are some more Microsoft anti-virus tools.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security/pc-security/malware-removal.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-gb/default.

I have had a sudden large amount of people I don't know try and add me to msn.

Quote: RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop @ January 9 2012, 7:36 PM GMT

I have had a sudden large amount of people I don't know try and add me to msn.

That seems like a different one. The ways of the cybercrims are highly variegated.

test

Quote: billwill @ January 9 2012, 7:34 PM GMT

Lots of people have recently fallen victim to a computer virus, which then uses the member's contact lists from Hotmail or MSN or Yahoo to send copies of itself to all the contacts.

The infected messages say several different one-line messages asking the recipient to click on it. Such as
<recipient name> Click to View Message
<recipient name> Click to View Video
Click here to read this message

Etc.

Just out of interest, would you get the virus just by reading the email, or would you have to follow a link within the email?

I've never understood that. Maybe it's different for different viruses.

Quote: zooo @ January 9 2012, 11:31 PM GMT

Just out of interest, would you get the virus just by reading the email, or would you have to follow a link within the email?

I've never understood that. Maybe it's different for different viruses.

It is different for different viruses.

They tend not to put the actual virus in emails anymore because then they get detected and blocked by anti-virus software in the email servers.

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