Spate of bad emails...

[Jimmy Macintosh]

Has something happened out there, a new virus released or something?

Over the last couple of days I've received multiple emails either containing a pdf that has just got to be opened or a link to see an electronic postcard from a "mate".

I know these are all fake and will probably do something bad, but it's been a long time since anything like this got through to my inbox.

I know the pdf's are bad as there is no message whatsoever in the body of the e-mail and the sending address at the top doesn't match the e-mail listed in my inbox.

The e-cards I went to the actual site and sent myself a free card to see what they appear like and the fake ones are so far off it's not even funny.

So is there just some p****d off hacker out there decided to wreck revenge on PC's? or has my filter decided to stop working?

[stickandrudderman]

Me too! WTFIGO?

[Tarq57]

Saw in a "latest threats" thread on a security forum that there are a few of these around. One takes the form of an E-Postcard. The suspicious text includes words like "a family friend" or "a colleague" or "relative" has sent you blah blah.
Once opened, it harvests all email addresses on the users email program, then resends itself.
Your crime is having friends with lax security protocols. Shame on you!

[Stick Flying]

I scanned the pdf one and it was clean. So opened it to find just another med's spam email. Why do they all think I need viagra (have they been speaking to my wife).

[Jimmy Macintosh]

If my only crime is friends with lax security protocols, nice. I didn't realise I had that many friends!!

I feel all kind of warm and fuzzy now. :)

[PPRuNe Pop]

There are a lot of nasties out there out the moment and you need to have good protection.

This is a comment that PPRuNe Towers made just a few days ago.

"I got one this morning from ***** (a well known PPRuNer.) There's some cunning harvesting going on. PC guys watch out - admin is also another common one arriving now."

Your address book can be harvested and you may receive an e-card - you should NOT open it - even though it is from someone you know. Get rid of it. Then you can email the person and tell him/her about it. They would want to know.

Btw, I downloaded "Spyware Terminator" having been given the nod in the list of progs available at the top of this forum. It seems to work great. I am honestly impressed.

All we can do is be aware!

PPP

[hobie]

you may receive an e-card - you should NOT open it

Received a few of those in recent days ...... :(

If your not expecting an email then dump it .... :)

[Basil]

FWIW also been receiving one or two a day.
Unfortunately had Outlook set with a reading pane permanently displayed - now switched off.
I mark as junk but of limited value because they change their apparent 'from' address with every send.

[IO540]

Your crime is having friends with lax security protocols.

Your crime is having friends who are normal non-geek people and who just click on everything that arrives by email :)

Unfortunately had Outlook set with a reading pane permanently displayed - now switched off

I thought that particular stupid back door was closed years ago. Now, Outlook should not execute any attachments unless they are files with the proper image file suffix. Then, you should be exposed only if you have the other back door unplugged; the one where a specially formatted jpeg can execute code of the attacker's choice, but M$ have plugged that one too, AFAIK.

[Bushfiva]

Now, Outlook should not execute any attachments unless they are files with the proper image file suffix.

It will still render any in-body HTML it sees, since it uses the IE engine for rendering. I use a third-party add-in which renders rich emails as text. So, for example, I get to see all the one-pixel tracking bugs that companies use to identify you when you read an email.