| Author |
Message |
    
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 109
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 9:59 am: |     |
I posted this someplace else by mistake -- meant to start a brand-new thread, so here goes: I received a very strange message in my e-mail in-box (in fact I receved two of them). The "from" space says "HOT msg." The subject line says "Please update your personal info (Priority 1)" When I move my cursor over it to highlight it, I get a pop-up window that asks me to download something -- and I can't close the window! This happens even when I do not actually click the message to open it! All I have to do is highlight the message and the unclosable pop-up window appears! The only way to get out of it is to press control/alt/delete. What is this thing? How do I get rid of it? It seems suspicious to me. |
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 65
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:26 pm: | |
Do not download anything!!!!
> This happens even when I do not actually click the message to open it!
True. People who write web pages can program your web browser to do something (like show a popup window) even if you do not click the mouse... moving your mouse over a certain "hot" area can cause things to occur.
It seems as if you got into one of those locations on the Internet that cause an inifinite amount of bothersome behavior... clever web page designers can write programs that display unclosable popup windows, create lots of different "instances" of your browser, etc.
In addition, you should never respond to *unsolicited* requests to update any personal info. Generally, downloading any unsolicted material can lead to computer viruses. Coincidentally, the famous Klez virus is now going around the Millburn Little League mailing list because someone downloaded something that they should not have.
Since one of the things that I do for a living is troubleshoot computers, we have been able to contain the problems. You should also make sure that your virus handling software is up to date.
Marc Adler
All Things Computered Ltd.
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shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 110
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 4:01 pm: | |
I figured it was a virus. But how do I get the thing deleted from my inbox???? I don't want to have to look at it every time I go into my e-mail program. |
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 66
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 7:55 am: | |
What mail program are you using? If you are using Outlook, you can just highlight the message header and press the DEL key. I would also then go into the Deleted Items folder, and again delete the message so that it is permanently removed. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 111
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:08 am: | |
Okay, I was able to delete the messages from my in-box and get them into the "deleted files" box. but I can't delete them from "deleted files" because I can't click the "okay" on the confirmation window ("do you wnat to permanently delete"?) fast enough before the annoying virus pop-up window appears. Remember, the pop-up appears when I just highlight the message. Suggestions? Is there another way to delete a message from the delete box? |
lseltzer
Citizen
Username: Lseltzer
Post Number: 1430
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 12:10 pm: | |
I assume you're using Outlook or Outlook Express, and you have the preview pane open? Go to Tools-Options (I think it's somewhere in there) and shut off the preview pane. |
#9Dream
Citizen
Username: 9dream
Post Number: 295
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 2:40 pm: | |
In Outlook it's View\Preview Pane. In Outlook Express it's View\Layout, and choose your preview pane options.
Shoshannah, I'd also recommend a popup killer like Popup Stopper. Do a Google search on it. In addition, go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download Ad-Aware 6. It's a free application that all users should consider a companion to an antivirus. |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 4554
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 11:05 pm: | |
Or use the Mozilla browser. It's free and you can set it to "no pop-ups allowed". Plus it's got tabbed browsing, which is neat.
http://www.mozilla.org/ |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 1580
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 4:56 pm: | |
In Outlook:
1. Undelete everything you don't want to permanently remove from your hard drive.
2. Click on the trash icon.
This will permanently delete everything showing in your delete window without your having to highlight anything. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 113
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 12:43 pm: | |
Thanks for all the suggestions. I haven't tried any of them yet because I've been away from my home PC for a few days. I'll let you know what happens. |
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