Re: strange email

From: andy smart (anonymus_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 09/24/04 

Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2004 20:10:28 +0100

RadarG wrote:

> I just got an email (spam) my self its got somebody elses name with my email
> address. The email that I received was a return email from the
> Postmaster@cox.net. Should I be alarmed about this. Is there a way that I
> could check so make sure that one of my computers isnt a zombie spam
> spitter. Thanks Justin
>
>
My guess would be that you're probably ok and that you've just collected
some spam as you suspect. The fact that it was returned by another
system's postmaster implies that it is just a spammail they've
intercepted and returned to the account it appears to come from. Does it
have all the original headers on the email, as that could help you find
the originating source (if you're that interested).

If you are worried about your machine being turned into a zombie, then
you could make the following checks. Is your anti-virus running and up
to date? Have you run spyware over it (say Adaware or Spybot)? If these
find nothing then it's unlikely. I'd install a firewall too and make
sure nothing is trying to access the Internet while you're on-line. This
wouldn't prove it isn't, but it would reduce the risk substantially,
andy