Wiz Feinberg
From:
Mid-Michigan, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2008 1:07 pm |
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Those are probably bounce messages from email servers rejecting spam sent with your account name forged in the From or Reply to fields. This is called a Joe Job.
All spam is now sent from zombie PCs that are members of various spam Botnets. They use templates that assemble forged email addresses in the From and Reply To fields, using addresses in spam databases of known email accounts. Sometimes the account exists on the server, but most of the time it is fictitious and will bounce to the listed reply to address.
There is nothing you can or need to do about this. If you are ever contacted by your ISP, because somebody files a SpamCop report that lists you as the sender, you will have some "splainin" to do. Always scan for Bots and spyware at least once a week. If you have a Windows PC and operate with Administrator privileges, or use Run As elevated to Administrator to install untrusted applications, you might be Botted and not know it.
Trend Micro offers a free little program called RUBotted. It's only job is to scan for Bot-like activity on your PC and notify you if it discovers any such activity. You are then directed to use the free HouseCall scanner to ferret out the Bot.
Even better, grab a copy of the also free Trend Micro Web Protection Add-on, which includes the RUBotted module, plus in-the-cloud definitions that get checked each time you click on a browser or email link, or type, or paste a URL into your browser. It automatically blocks access to any known hostile web page or download. The database is constantly updated and it works in the blink of a needle's eye!
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"Wiz" Feinberg, Moderator SGF Computers Forum
Security Consultant
Twitter: @Wizcrafts
Main web pages: Wiztunes Steel Guitar website | Wiz's Security Blog | My Webmaster Services | Wiz's Security Blog |
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