Spam email sent from my hotmail account

[bridgej]

Hi

This morning at about 6.30, everyone in my contact list was sent a spam email about an iphone or something.

I am very careful about what I open in email attachments, which websites I visit. How has this happened.

My Norton antivirus is up to date and after a full system scan states everything is secure.

The other thing is all my contacts have disappeared my my contact folder, although I have found them deep in the bowels of Windows, but I am having difficulty restoring them.

Any ideas on how I can sort my PC out?

Thanks

[Rik]

Download Super AntiSpyware and run it from safe mode. You've undoubtedly picked up a trojan somewhere.

[DorsetBoy]

Hmm, sounds more like they hacked your Hotmail account.  You will need to change your Hotmail/Live password and make it extra long. If you have problems with settings /contacts etc. get in touch with Hotmail/Live support.

[bridgej]

thanks

[talos]

DB is correct, the same thing happened to my account last week.  HM are aware, and I think there is a blog on the subject somewhere.  I just changed my log in details, password Etc and they stopped

[DorsetBoy]

My neighbour has had it happen, he spent days chasing trojans etc. said it was all cleared up ( his PC is always full of garbage as he uses all the cracked software sites).......... 3 days later it all kicked off again. He reformatted his machine,I had said ask Hotmail/Live first,I am sure you have had your account hacked,but no he reformats.

What happens the first day he has his machine back on line    200 + emails go out from his account.

People need to learn to use a REAL password .

[Rik]

You mean your name isn't good enough? 

[DorsetBoy]

You mean your name isn't good enough? 

You jest but yes,I have seen that and even PASSword 

[Rik]

Not to mention opensesame and letmein...

[faircot]

Not to mention opensesame and letmein...

I provide PC support to home users and small businesses around here and I can guarantee that if there's a cat or dog in the house, that's the password!

[Rik]

That's an argument for buying a pedigree animal and using that name for the password and another for everyday use.

[DorsetBoy]

I provide PC support to home users and small businesses around here and I can guarantee that if there's a cat or dog in the house, that's the password!

Guilty    done that in the past, but after having a server hacked with a real but obviously not long enough password I make things difficult now.