Computer virus and Redtractorman

I've gotten several emails from somebody calling themselves "Redtractorman" over the past few months. Each time there's been an attachment, and each time the attachment has contained a computer virus.

If you get email from this person, just delete it...better safe than sorry.

If you *are* this person, be aware that I just delete your emails now. If it is an accident, then get a virus scanner and clean your machine.

Tom A

A lot of advertisers are using "mail that claims to be returned" so that you'll open it and read their spam. This doesn't indicate a virus, it is just spam based on a lie to trick you.

"Returned mail," if in fact the original came from your email account and you did *not* send it, does indicate that either you've got a virus or somebody is using your account.

You can tell the difference if you read thru the message headers.

Tom

I get 3-6 viruses a day. None of them actually come from the address they pretend to come from. So many of them come to me 'from' a Hotmail or other screened account, which is not possible, as Hotmail etc. filter out the viruses & do not send them. You best be careful who you blame for a virus. The new viruses steal email addresses from any temp folder in your computer or any email list, and afix phoney 'from' lines from that list, while sending out the viruses to the same list of people. That will make it look like the virus is coming from someone you know...

If you are far more technical than I, perhaps you are tracking things down at a much deeper level & then 'never mind' me, but is doesn't seem so?

We all need virus protection. Everybody. And updated weekly. It is a must.

--->Paul

Was going to just let this die as I thought all that could be said had been.

But your sentence: "...best be careful who you blame..." causes me to answer.

Please read my original post carefully, as the only person I 'blamed' was somebody 'calling themselves Redtractorman.' And, yes, I do in fact read headers deeply, as I tend toward geekishness, and I am convinced the emails in question came from that account; it would be very difficult (although not impossible) to fake that.

I'm done on this...not another word from me.
Hope everyone has a great week.

Tom

Viruses are a big deal. If you know what you are talking about, help us all out by explaining this fruther. Most of the new viruses are pretty good at faking out the 'from' line, just as most spammers these days do the same. You can probably track down the ISP or such that the message originated from, but to creadably track down the actual computer it came from is, as I understand it, pretty darn difficult.

If you're not familiar with the new computer computer viruses, they are _really_ good at hiding their source these days.

Either way, thanks for the comments, and raising the topic here. We all need to be more aware of the dangers computer viruses present. A relative ended up buying a new computer - the old one was infected by 100's of them. But, she had a virus program, it always said it was scanning!!!! It was 16 months old, of course... While her old computer could be reformatted, she did not like reinstalling everything, a few software upgrades needed, and just moved on to a new one.

I'd hope you not withdraw from people, but continue to communicate with the rest of the world. Your first messages have been a little short, so it's hard to tell if you are aware of the subject. Great if you are.

--->Paul

I have also had a few people that I know send me those damn chain letters which I never respond to, all but one have quit sending them. He is a good old sole, I have given him every hint in the book, still no luck. I never give out anyones e-mail and don't apreciate others doing the same.

I also never use the address book on my computer. Again I wish others would do the same.

To stop all that, you should change your password immediately and probably should notify your ISP in case somebody has used your account for anything illegal.

The most secure password is one that mixes letters and numbers and doesn't spell any real word. Even so, hackers have software that can 'read' your passwords, so you should change it periodically.

Good luck,
Tom

(My pastor got REAL excited about the virus that someone else had that was sending email with his return address with a subject of 'sexy asian lasses pics' -- it took about an hour to calm him down.)

(My pastor got REAL excited about the virus that someone else had that was sending email with his return address with a subject of 'sexy asian lasses pics' -- it took about an hour to calm him down.)

I have Norton anti-virus. My wife and my daughter look after that, I don't know much about it. They think I am too reckless in my use of computer. I always tell them the person who never makes a mistake, never does much.

I have Norton anti-virus. My wife and my daughter look after that, I don't know much about it. They think I am too reckless in my use of computer. I always tell them the person who never makes a mistake, never does much.