Virus? from received email with link!

B

babushka

I received an email from my American sister with no subject and a link to some website (in addition to my email address, there were about 7 other email addresses - including 2 for her son). I was stupid enough to click on that link :mad:, and it opened up to another website selling viagra! The link in the email was not the same as the website selling viagra. I have googled the name of the website but it did not show anything. I phoned my sister and she said sorry, her email seemed to be hijacked. The reason why I opened the link because my sister said she would be sending me an email. So, I thought that was the email she referred to!

I have run scans on Norton 360, and no virus was found. However, I am very nervous because a friend told me that when I opened the link there might be a spyware which hid in my computer to copy my keystrokes to steal my passwords.

Can someone please help me to understand whether what my friend said was true or not? So far, I have not logged into any bank account website. What should I now do to protect my computer and internet usage? Many thanks!!!
 
You could do something like this

There's a program fro free called malware bytes or something - download that and run it and scan your computer

Many people I've spoken to suggest other anti virus programs to norton, so maybe think about getting one of those - e.g Avast or AVG or Trend
 
Some of the programs that are good for detection are not very good for removal, and vice versa.

2 free programs I've used at work for my clients are Trend Housecall and Malware Bytes. Google these, install them, download them and run scans with each. (One at a time). Have your sister do the same.

See if either of you get anything suspect found then we can determine what steps to take from there.

Never ever click on links from anyone unless you're 100% positive as to where they lead.
 
Thanks, all, for your replies. I am going to download the free software suggested. But, at the moment I am too scare to log into my bank accounts! - because I don't know if there is bad software waiting inside my computer? It was very stupid of me, I know, to open that link. I received another email from an acquaintance this week with no subject and just a link and I did delete it. I should have done the same with my sister's email. :mad:

Update: I have scanned my computer with both malwarebytes and trend housecall and both reported that no bad thing detected. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed tightly for no virus infection!

PS - I also read on whirlpool forum and the above 2 free software have been recommended also. Thanks.
 
Last edited:
I used to use McAfee until my computer guy told me it's not that good. He uses AVG which I now have.

Similar thing happened to me recently. Someone hacked my Gmail account I use for web subscriptions but haven't actually used as my mail client for years, but I still had some old addresses in the address book - because Gmail adds them in whenever you send someone an email. :rolleyes: So myself as well as a few people who hadn't changed emails for years got the spam about buying a cheap computer, though most of the addresses I had in there bounced as the account was so old. I warned the few people it went through to, but they all knew I wouldn't have sent them something like that anyway.
 
babushka said:
Update: I have scanned my computer with both malwarebytes and trend housecall and both reported that no bad thing detected. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed tightly for no virus infection!
Click to expand...
You've scanned with reputable scanning software, so I'd be feeling pretty reassured. Sometimes those links are just an attempt to sell you stuff - ie they simply wanted you to buy Viagra ;) - and don't have any malware or virus associated with them. It sounds like that's probably the case in your situation. :)
 
If you just visit the sight without actually clicking on anything you cant get a virus, in any case stop using internet explorer and use chrome or firefox they are much better to use and lower the potential for getting viruses to next to nothing.

I ditched windows at home a few years ago and now use Ubuntu its free and much more stable once you get used to the environment you would never go back. At work I fix windows based problems all day and cant be bothered doing it at home as well.
 
Not true imonmyway, you can sell get the virus/virii. It hasn't been the case of having to download + execute viruses since web 2.0.....

Use a decent anti virus in safe mode, generally cleans out most things.

AVG and Avira are two heavily recommended programs, however don't use both at once. :)
 
Ive had the same problem happen to me, I had a link sent to me and other people from someone I knew I click the link and ever since then in my hotmail account I have been getting message failure to send in my account someone ask me why I keep sending them these emails which I'm not doing anyhow I checked my sent folder and appears these links are been sent from my hotmail account I have had to change my password to see if this fixes very scary stuff computer keeps coming up clean, its like someone had access to my hotmail account.
 
Timeshift said:
Ive had the same problem happen to me, I had a link sent to me and other people from someone I knew I click the link and ever since then in my hotmail account I have been getting message failure to send in my account someone ask me why I keep sending them these emails which I'm not doing anyhow I checked my sent folder and appears these links are been sent from my hotmail account I have had to change my password to see if this fixes very scary stuff computer keeps coming up clean, its like someone had access to my hotmail account.
Click to expand...
It sounds like somebody has had access to your account, and changing your password isn't enough. Check out this article.
 
Another couple of very useful free "cleaning" tools are:


Personally, I run them about once a month, and along with using Avast (http://www.avast.com/en-au/index - a free real-time anti-virus) I've never had an issue... well, except this one time, when I did something stupid! :D

Disclaimer: I have no interest in any of these programs - just enjoy personally recommending them as I think they're great
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Tenant just sms to cancel viewing Sat morning
Replies
15
Views
2K
Adelaide
A
Ajax
New email virus warning
Replies
1
Views
965
Sim
Sim
G
Where to go for help if you are being scammed?
2 3
Replies
52
Views
8K
gnokkybbob
G
E
(Another) Rant about property managers
2
Replies
30
Views
4K
Chooke
C
HomeBuyAU
Property Management Strange Behaviour
Replies
3
Views
1K
Bargain Hunter
Bargain Hunter
Back
Top