Gmail virus threat

[vaneramos]

A friend received an email with an attachment, and identifying my Gmail account as the sender. Fortunately she was suspicious and asked me before opening it. I didn't send the email. It most likely contains a virus.

If you receive an email from me (or presumbably anyone, especially on Gmail) with an attachment and "approved application" in the subject line, delete it without opening it. As far as I can tell, my computer and email account are uninfected, but it would appear someone has hacked into my contact list. I will try to find out whether Google knows anything about this. If anyone has any relevant information about the problem, please let me know.

Comments

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

Relevant information about this virus, no. But a general point:

Nobody has to hack into your contact list. All they have to do is get a virus onto a system owned by both you and your friend. C gets infected ... C has B's address in their contacts, and A's. C's machine starts sending to A disguised as B.

A only cares because she happens to know B and thinks it may be genuine. If the virus is also going to X, X is likely to say "who the fuck is B?" and not be sucked in.

It is *possible* that your contact list got hacked, but it is not required.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Woah, yeah. I hadn't thought of that, but it makes sense. We're both on a contact list for the Rainbow Chorus, so it could have come from any one of about 50 people.

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

It really suffices to say: keep your virus software updated, and don't open stuff from folks if it look suspicious.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Actually no. A friend of mine had his Yahoo! account hacked into, which is a different problem. I was afraid that had happened to my Gmail, so I asked whether anyone knew about this issue. Fortunately, someone has suggested a less sinister and more likely explanation.

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

Can I tell you that angry face icon you have with you in that cap totally makes me want to drive up there and take you right in the doorway?

Okay, that didn't make me feel better but at least I said it. LOL

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Haha, and the joke is I'm not frowning at all, just squinting in the afternoon light.

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

seriously? I wouldn't have known...but it still doesn't diminish the hawt-ness!

[hankdmoose.livejournal.com]

What trapezebear describes is a rather common tactic for viruses which propogate via e-mail. You should send a note to the mailing list you mentioned as well anyone else the two of you might both have in your address list.

You may also want to change your gmail password in case it was cracked. It is possible someone actually broke into your account to send e-mail to people in your address list. This is less probable than the third party infection scenario, but nonetheless a possibility.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have taken those precautions. The person who got hit is in the Rainbow Chorus, so the infected computer is most likely someone on the chorus distribution list. I have sent around a warning and a suggestion that people protect their computers properly.

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but if someone already hacked your Gmail, you'd be locked out of it for good; I guarantee you. They'd change your password, security questions, etc. I've known enough people it's happened to as well who've said that whatever ISP or mail server have done little or nothing to get their original accounts back. They had to start over again.