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General discussion

Undeliverable messages

by arrondee Nov 27, 2003 12:15AM PST

For several weeks now I have been getting e-mails returned to me as undeliverable. These messages have not been sent out by myself. I thought
this was because of a virus on someone else?s machine that was using my address at random to send messages ( I also get the ?Microsoft patch?
virus sent to me everyday as well which is caught by my antivirus software). I have kept my antivirus files up to date, and the machine is scanned everyday, but just to make sure, I also ran an online check from Trend Micro (Trend M> PC cillin) House Call which also found that my machine was virus free.

Now my ISP ( I am on cable) has cut me off without warning and suspended my service, saying that my computer is sending out Spam. I told them that I was sure the computer was virus free, but their Tech support said that it was possible that someone was hacking into my machine and that I should have run a firewall on it to prevent this happening.
Since then I have run Mcafee, pestpatrol, trojan guarder and the cleaner, all of which reported my computer was free of viruses and trojans.
Is it possible to use my computers address to send Spam without having some sort of backdoor program/Trojan on my machine? Have you any thoughts
or ideas?

Discussion is locked

3 Posts
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Re:Undeliverable messages
by Mark G Nov 27, 2003 12:54AM PST

what i would do is make copies of all your scans contact your isp and speak to a supervisor, ask them where to send your clean scans then tell them that your next step is a lawyer.
btw what isp?

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Re:Undeliverable messages
by Donna Buenaventura Nov 27, 2003 1:47AM PST

That's a sad thing Sad

You don't use a firewall? Your ISP is correct. You should use a firewall software which will monitor incoming and outgoing connections and will prompt you if you will allow a program/application to make a connection. Try installing a firewall. You can try the free version ZoneAlarm from www.zonelabs.com

Try to run a Trojan online scan:
GFI Trojan Scan - http://www.trojanscan.com/trojanscan/trojanscan.htm

Also, try using the Anti-Parasite Suite http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6132-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=1313&start=0

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Re:Undeliverable messages
by Keith Marcotte Nov 27, 2003 2:59AM PST

Someone may be spoofing your email address as the return address. Ask you ISP to check the IP addresses in the email headers to confirm that it is indeed your PC and not just your email address that is the alleged originator of the spam. If you have any of those returned emails, check the IP addresses in them. That's how I determined the ISP of an infected PC. Then the ISP took the IP address/date/time for the message and determined which customer was infected.

It wouldn't hurt to install a firewall like ZoneAlarm (free edition), Kerio or Sygate to check for outgoing traffic just to further prove your case.

If you need assistance in interpreting the email headers, email it to me @ su1rgsl02@sneakemail.com. Posting the info in the forums isn't recommended.

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