News Hotmail attack deletes contacts, emails

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/bits/2010/02/03/hotmail-attack-deletes-contacts-emails/1

An attack against Microsoft's Hotmail site - which the company is blaming on account-harvesting malware - is resulting in the mass-deletion of users' contact lists and sent e-mails.

 

Hotmail, people still use that?

 

like a plaque.... yes.....

most ppl use it to get into live messenger. then use gmail or wutever for their "real" emails.

 

I do. Its easy. I tried G-mail but my mailbox was constantly full of spam so reverted to hotmail/windows live mail.

 

Probably if you don't register to funky porn sites that won't happen...

GMail works fine. You can use it in live. I use my old ISP's email account for live tho.

 

Can I blame IE6?

I've always found GMail far and away the best free webmail service (despite the snooping and ads)

 

Who says "pleased to share this good news with you! May all goes well for you.". Such a failed attempt to sound genuine.

Instantly deleted.

 

So you're telling me that the password 'password' isn't secure anymore?

Hotmail is okay so long as you set custom spam filter riles, use a serious alpha numeric password and change the secret question to something that can't be answered by someone who's read your Facebook profile.

 

I had something similar to this a few weeks back after installing chrome. I got spam emails from my own account, which alerted me to the fact, so I checked my settings, and found some "automated holiday email" thing (sends out custom auto replies to people on your contacts if they email you). I changed my password, deleted the custom message, and told people to ignore any of that type of shite and contact me if they got more from me. My password was pretty strong; having upper & lower case letters, numbers and a couple other text things in it (don't know what to call them).
Luckily didn't get my contacts & emails fudged, but that might have been due to fixing the infection within 15 mins.
Haven't had any problems since.

 

i got Gmail for tech newsletters and college Info

Hotmail for personal contacts

Yahoo for crap (like hey i want to download this patch, or try this new mp3 player and i need to register, ok, take my yahoo account ) Oh, and Pr0n ofc

 

@paisa666 - obviously the smartest thing to do is have an independent email account for crap and pr0n! Cheesecake!

 

I have received a few of these mails from a friend. I replied to him saying ''SPAM!!'' so surely I won't receive anymore.

 

Many friends of mine have reported that they got their contacts deleted but this was some time ago, only know MS has something to say about it? One of them was years ago.

I use hotmail and have no problems really, I'm on my second account because the other was filled with litter and registered to a bunch of things that let spam and ad pass by the filters. Set up another account, no ad's or other kind of spam. Gmail isn't so interesting, the GUI isn't that appealing. Nevertheless, both are good email providers

 

from what's described.. it sounds like someone is just playing with their botnet for some scam cash- he probably automates and can make it look more genuine by readin the emails in the account and reproduce the writing style- maybe alot of people in on it too imo

 

well for facebook mine is blank no one will relalise its me becasue it has a different name to here and email

for the spam thing if you use soemthing lie google you can create spam account easily for example my email could be

john@btinternet.com

and the spam accould could be 123456@yahoo.co.uk

and as a reset question why not do something like "what is your hobby" answer papercraft (no one will guess that and dont try it on my email if you ever find it out i havent set one)

 

This!

I only ever get spam in my gmail spam folder, never inbox. My hotmail is set only to receive emails from known contacts, the rest in spam.

Also I am not retarded enough to click on crap.

 

What else would I use? I use MSN messenger, not AIM/Yahoo. And I have had this same account for the last 7 years of my life. It'd be more of a pain to change my e-mail then it would be to restore the contacts in my cellphone.

I can check it anywhere and I don't get nearly as much spam as I did when I tried Gmail.

*shrug* Each their own I'm sure, but Hotmail works for me.

 

Hotmail is shutting down and deleting any emails and contacts if you don't forward this message!

Was anyone reminded of those dumb chain emails when they first read this article? Kinda ironic if you ask me.

 

Same here.

hotmail = friends/hotmail
gmail 1 = junk
gmail 2 = back up for uni/job related stuff
yahoo = yahoo answers and messanger

yahoo gets hit with so much spam its scary. all in junk folder tho. hotmail gets the least but it lets the most through into the inbox. gmail is by far the best for spam.

In all honest who cares what one you use? You click compose, enter address, type titel and message then click send. does it matter if your address it @hotmail or @yahoo or @gmail?

 

I use Hotmail as a "Nirvana" account, which I use in the dark corners of the web.
Hotmail filters our a serious amount of spam, their filters seem to be quite good ;-)