Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Off Topic GMail Help

Yep, that would be the first thing one would need to find out, are these email send by your account or are the email just stating your address. And email can outwardly display any address, even looking like you send it to yourself, but if one looks deeper into the innards one sees that's actually a totally different server and account sending.

Are you actually sure your account got hacked and not somebody else's you know, or somebody might have caught themselves a virus.

The free email providers I use are all German, so I'd don't think that'd be of help. (Got the part about Google = data kraken right, they are too "oh, we didn't know we were doing anything wrong and it's not actually bad, no idea why you are all up in arms about us storing/revealing your data" on too many things.)

Malu and Chaos, I was told that the spam messages never had any subject. They just explicitly stated my Yahoo Mail address. One friend who opened hers said it was for Viagra another for some type of porn. Since deleting that account, almost a week ago, the problem has been solved. I don't think my pacbell email address is sending out spam anymore. It was really only the Yahoo.

Gmail, sigh. It continues to display the same "error" I mentioned yesterday. That sure gets old real quick! I might have to give Yahoo Mail one last shot.

I also liked Yahoo Mail because of YIM. Now, admittedly I only ever chatted with a few people but I loved being able to set my privacy option so only people I invited to IM could contact me. With Google, you can do that, BUT, it also says that all my contacts (email) can IM me and it will "put IM's from those not on my buddy list off to the side." Sounds to me like anyone can IM me. I also, don't quite care for chatting via the email page and didn't care to give Google Talk all the info it wanted. That all said, I noticed the new YIM 10, I believe, seems to indicate that anyone on your contact list can IM you, is there a way to change that? Or does anyone have an older version that does?

I'll check back later. Thanks again.

Mona

You can turn the google IM off at the very bottom of the page.

Apparently you can sign in to multiple Gmail accounts simultaneously. Using multiple accounts simultaneously.

Question: When you log in is the URL http://mail.google.com/mail/... or https://mail.google.com/mail...?
If it is not https, try going to settings and selecting Always use https in the Browser connection line of the General Settings tab.

Amy

Thanks again Marcus.

Amy, I bookmarked: https://www.google.com/accounts/Ser...cc=1&ltmpl=d efault&ltmplcache=2

Typing in www.gmail.com brings up the same site as does clicking onto the "gmail" tab from Google itself.

Like I said, gmail has not been a good match for me and most likely I'll be trying something else.

I very much appreciate all the help on here.

Mona

The gmail engine has been adopted by several ISPs now, in place of webmail packages that didn't work as well, don't be surprised if you see it again...

This morning I took a look at the montly security report from my anti virus software. It said a total of 113issues had been found on my pc during the last 30 days. 2 were spyware stopped and 111 were websites blocked. I have only had the (new) pc since March. Is my pc "infected?"

I realize the connection issue (longterm) is not the best but is that already causing trouble? (Again, I have an ancient modem that requires me to "establish a broadband connection" before being able to go online. I have to do this every time because I don't chose to leave my pc on 24/7). I've questioned my ISP about upgrading to an "always connected/on" modem and was told that'd cost $60-$70. If I were to ever change services from my DSL to the cable company, their service comes with that type of modem for the same speed and price as dsl so I am looking into that.

Determining whether your PC is infected or not is rather difficult by the data giving, that it stopped usually means that it's not a danger to your PC now, but one never knows what it mightn't have found.
(Unfortunately I can't remember any of the generally recommended pages to get an online check up.)
Btw, it might also be possible that your Yahoo account wasn't hacked, but a virus on your system captured your address book and send out those emails from your PC.

Your modem is internal, isn't it? An external one wouldn't have the off/on issue, since it's a matter of having energy not a matter of requiring a special modem.
If you get a new one try to get one with a router and a hardware firewall. A hardware firewall would stop certain kinds of attacks and security problems before they ever come near your PC.

Thanks, Chaos. I never thought of that possibility--that the virus not a person was the hacker. It just seemed tied to that email address though as I said a few times my other one @pacbell did likewise. Both were checked through Yahoo Mail.

I just checked the "security report" to see the breakdown, and already since this morning 2 more websites have been blocked. I swear I don't have any interest let alone attempt in checking out unsafe or unscrupulous sites! Besides this forum, I'm only a member of 3 others. Otherwise, I just check email, look at a few coupon sites, and an occasional Google Search. Nothing "fancy."

My modem is an external one that plugs into the computer. When I got this new computer, (like any other) I had to call the phone company to have them help me set up the DSL connection.

My dad, for example, also has an external modem. However he never touches his. There's no turning it on/off. It's simply always connected. He turns on his pc, gets it running and is set to open IE. I first have to click onto establishing a connection, etc. (and,of course, turn on the modem).

I do think it is sort of suspicious that after 10 years an email address would go awry but then I know in the virtual world there are all sorts of evil viruses etc. As I said, since closing that account, the spam has stopped. It'll be interesting to see if the next security report reflects more positive things. I have Trend Micro and when I do full scans, nothing pops up.

As for the "Health Check," yes every now and then HP does an automatic "PC Tune Up/Health Check." I don't know how to run that without the prompt.

I guess I could try another Yahoo email and see what happens. I would appreciate hearing thoughts on free emails if anyone cares to share. Just no gmail for me!

Thank you all again,
Mona

The most likely reason for web sites being blocked is that popups that link to them are in use at one of the sites you visit. It isn't necessarily a sign that you computer is the problem.

Marcus, you have been wonderfully helpful (as has everyone else) thank you.