Problem with massive numbers of "undelivered" mail items coming through...

[Shmee150]

I know this is a software problem not hardware, but I need help fast.

I think my computer has started sending out masses of junk e-mails because in the last 45 minutes I have received about 350 "returned" e-mail messages...

I have not been to any websites this evening that I haven't before but I'm suspecting some sort of virus, any idea how I can stop it ASAP????

Thanks for any help,

Tim

[MD]

It could be a virus, but unlikely if your AV is coming up clean.

It's more likely someone has used a mail spoofer to have your email address as the sender and all the bounces come back to you even though you didn't send them.

I would notify your mailhost to this happening though...

matt

[Choo Choo]

Have done any virus scans on your system? Try use an online virus scanner as well like Trend Housecall.

Trend Micro HouseCall - Free Online Virus and Spyware Scan - Trend Micro USA

[Shmee150]

I've run a complete online trend scan as well. Are there any others I can run through? It's now coming through at like 10 a minute. I think I need to get on the LiveHelp to my mail host and find out more.

Cheers,

Tim

[Choo Choo]

Free Virus Scan - Kaspersky Lab

McAfee – Computer Anti-Virus Software and Internet Security For Your PC

[Funkstar]

I've had this too. Still get it from time to time. I is nothing to do with your PC or your host.

I think the just pick an email address to spoof and use that for a while.

I think it peaked at about 200 a day a few months back.

I have no spam from today, very odd.

[Shmee150]

Ok all antivirusis showing up clean. I've spoken to somebody at my Mail hosting but they basically don't have a clue. I think I'm in for a hard time for a while, any idea how long it went on for with you funkstar? I hope I don't have it for long in any instance!

[Funkstar]

I still get it, and it started back in July

Oulooks spam filter can't really cope, so i nowhave a bunch of inbox rules that catches all mail with things like "Mail Delivery Subsustem" and "Failure Notice" etc in the subject and just sends them straight to the junk folder.

That cuts about 90% of it out of your inbox. Making each one individually as junk is a pain in the ass.

This is the thread i started t the time:
http://forums.hexus.net/general-disc...-my-email.html

[TooNice]

Yea, that happened to one of my webmail account too. I did the same as Funkstar (filtered some keywords) until it blows over.

[JimNastics]

Yep happens to me every now and then, wake up to an inbox full of hundreds of returned emails. It does worry me a bit, what if my domain gets put on a blacklist? Anyway, I use Mailwasher to preview and deal with the mail on my mail server before I download, it's a life saver

[Lucio]

I'm lucky, we host our own e-mail (with our webserver elsewhere), so we've got ASSP put into place.

[EtheAv8r]

Another 'checker' from a trusted source.. scan your PC on the Infected or Not website (Infected or not - Find out if your PC has virus, spyware...)

[DougMcDonald]

I would be tempted to contact your email host and notify them that someone is attempting to spoof your address. They may be something they can do to secure the server's smtp connections at their end.

[Shmee150]

I would be tempted to contact your email host and notify them that someone is attempting to spoof your address. They may be something they can do to secure the server's smtp connections at their end.

I did get in touch and hey've slowed down significantly. In the 9 odd hours I was asleep I only received about 10 more and these are all like delayed 4hrs etc... so I think it's probably gone away pretty quickly. That was very worrying though!

Tim