Stoopid email hacking hacks me off!

[sweetpee_1993]

So I'm gonna vent!

I don't think I have many of the members here in my contacts but it appears my email got hacked this morning. If you got anything from me just delete it.

You know, I don't get it. I've only ever had my email hacked once, back in 2009. I had FB and stupidly opened a link in an email from FB because what it said could've pertained to me on an extremely personal level. I get that I earned that virus out of my stupidity. Then my email got hacked a week after the virus issue. That prompted me to deactivate the entire FB account and I was a fervent resistor of all things FB since.

Then a few months ago the homeschool group I had finally found in our area that seemed to be the best fit switched to a FB-only format. I reluctantly reactivated my account but stripped my content to nothing. No friends. No nothing. No "wall", no info. Nothing! I set every security setting I could find to ultra-mega private. I decline all friends requests. I literally exist on FB to interact with 3 groups and that is it. Nothing else. I don't get emails from FB and if I did I wouldn't open them. But here I am again.

I don't understand how the hell my email could even get hacked. I use a Mac. Security is not an issue with Macs. I access my email on my Mac, my iphone, and my old man's pc that has security on it that was recommended to us by our dear friends whose son went to college and graduated specializing in internet security. How the hell does this happen??? And why does it seem to correlate with FB BOTH TIMES it's happened to me??? I've been on the internet using that email account for...geez...13 years. Both times I've had issues it's been within a few months of activating a FB account.

**sigh**

Like Chandler said, "FB is the root of all evil, Mom." That is TRUE!!!!!

 

[harveyt0206]

I was off of Facebook for almost a year for that very reason. My email was hacked awhile back. An email telling people about the evils of smoking was sent to everyone on my email list. I was embarrassed because while I personally don't smoke I also don't think it's my place to preach to other people how to live their lives. I'm a live and let live kind of gal. Not everyone on my email list is a close friend. Some are simply acquaintances who I'm sure just loved receiving a bunch of spam emails from me.

I have no clue how these things happen but I feel your frustration. The internet is a double edged sword: tons of fun, informative sites to visit. But also kinda like the wild Wild West.

 

[ScoutN]

Security IS a growing issue with Macs. It has not been for a good portion of time due to its low demand in the big picture. That has drastically changed over the past couple years.

I started getting spam on an address I have had for ten years about six months back. I learned to delete items not recognized. I got two emails from Facebook last week stating I have unread messages. The catch is I do not have Facebook and I did not have email notifications on when I did have it. The two messages also I have different numbers of messages unread in each subject line. Furthermore, if you have Facebook deactivated you will not get emails saying something like that.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I know like a year or so ago Avast had a beta for Mac security but it wasn't ready for a full release. I'll recheck that today. DS16 says iPhones are becoming more at risk for hacking but I have no clue. 16 yro's all think they're the experts in everything so you kinda take the stuff that leaves their mouths with a grain of salt. LOL!

FB is freakin' awful. I'm still prone to connect this to them somehow because I'm the only person in the house who had a FB account and I'm the only one to have their email hacked. Twice. Within a few months of activating said FB account.

 

[Master Yoda]

So I'm gonna vent!

I don't think I have many of the members here in my contacts but it appears my email got hacked this morning. If you got anything from me just delete it.

You know, I don't get it. I've only ever had my email hacked once, back in 2009. I had FB and stupidly opened a link in an email from FB because what it said could've pertained to me on an extremely personal level. I get that I earned that virus out of my stupidity. Then my email got hacked a week after the virus issue. That prompted me to deactivate the entire FB account and I was a fervent resistor of all things FB since.

Then a few months ago the homeschool group I had finally found in our area that seemed to be the best fit switched to a FB-only format. I reluctantly reactivated my account but stripped my content to nothing. No friends. No nothing. No "wall", no info. Nothing! I set every security setting I could find to ultra-mega private. I decline all friends requests. I literally exist on FB to interact with 3 groups and that is it. Nothing else. I don't get emails from FB and if I did I wouldn't open them. But here I am again.

I don't understand how the hell my email could even get hacked. I use a Mac. Security is not an issue with Macs. I access my email on my Mac, my iphone, and my old man's pc that has security on it that was recommended to us by our dear friends whose son went to college and graduated specializing in internet security. How the hell does this happen??? And why does it seem to correlate with FB BOTH TIMES it's happened to me??? I've been on the internet using that email account for...geez...13 years. Both times I've had issues it's been within a few months of activating a FB account.

**sigh**

Like Chandler said, "FB is the root of all evil, Mom." That is TRUE!!!!!

I see you are one of the many that bought into the hype. Security was not an issue on Macs simply because there were so few of them. It was kind of like having a house in the middle of nowhere. You could leave your doors unlocked and not worry. This was not because you house was secure, it was because it was not worth it for the thieves to head out there for one house.

That is no longer the case and they are now a prime target. You really have to be more vigilant on Mac now than ever before. I have heard estimate as high as 20% of all Macs are infected with some kind of malware and email seems to be the easiest way in.

Facebook has made getting malware even easier. Install a game, app or view a "shocking" video and you have more than likely unknowingly installed malware on your computer.

Some general rules to follow. Never open an email attachment from an unknown source or an attachment you weren't expecting for that matter. Research any social game for legitimacy before you play. Never view those "shocking" videos or pictures. Never install tool bars. Never "scan your computer for problems" via some website. Make your passwords more secure.The best password is three random words strung together. Educate yourself. Facecrooks is a great page to keep up to date on current facebook threats.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

@Master Yoda: That's what gets me. I haven't loaded anything from FB, not opened any emails with links, played no games, etc. I don't see FB the way others do. With no "friends" I don't log on and see a wall full of everyone else's random crap, game links, etc. I see 3 group pages and I can interact with the people in those groups. I get emails when there's postings in the groups but I delete those. If I want to see the group stuff I go to FB. I was so careful. I'm definitely going to look for Avast for Mac. I guess I was lulled into a false security because each time I've been in a Mac store and asked about security program recommendations the person I talked to said, "I don't know. I've never used any because Mac doesn't need it." But, as Mac sales have grown in recent years if makes sense that they would increasingly be targeted. And I know nothing is 100%.

 

[wdwmagic]

It is more than likely not a security issue with your Mac, but a security issue with a service that you use. All it takes is for someone to brute force dictionary attack any of your accounts to gain access. Receiving lots of email like that also seems to suggest you are on a phishing list. Change all your passwords, and use different ones for different accounts.

 

[Master Yoda]

@Master Yoda: That's what gets me. I haven't loaded anything from FB, not opened any emails with links, played no games, etc. I don't see FB the way others do. With no "friends" I don't log on and see a wall full of everyone else's random crap, game links, etc. I see 3 group pages and I can interact with the people in those groups. I get emails when there's postings in the groups but I delete those. If I want to see the group stuff I go to FB. I was so careful. I'm definitely going to look for Avast for Mac. I guess I was lulled into a false security because each time I've been in a Mac store and asked about security program recommendations the person I talked to said, "I don't know. I've never used any because Mac doesn't need it." But, as Mac sales have grown in recent years if makes sense that they would increasingly be targeted. And I know nothing is 100%.

Mac Geniuses saying things like this really make me want to kick a puppy. The Mac OS has almost always been the first to fall at hacker conventions. Not to mention that services that we all use can be hacked as well. It was only a matter of time before their popularity increased to a point where hacking them would be profitable. @wdwmagic will more than likely know more than me, but the only anti-virus that I have seen for the Mac that is done by a company I recognized is Norton. Intego is also a name I have heard thrown around in Mac circles. From what I understand, Intego focus solely on Mac security.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

It is more than likely not a security issue with your Mac, but a security issue with a service that you use. All it takes is for someone to brute force dictionary attack any of your accounts to gain access. Receiving lots of email like that also seems to suggest you are on a phishing list. Change all your passwords, and use different ones for different accounts.

I receive literally hundreds of emails daily. The majority is all from online stores, etc. because I shop a lot online. At least 5 or more emails per day are obvious ones I know I don't want to open. I definitely think I need to start changing up a lot of passwords. I know I have zero chance of remembering them all. Guess I'll need to start a written list & keep it tucked away. LOL!

 

[donaldtoo]

All that I've just read here is yet another of the many reasons I will probably never open an FB account.
Mark *uckerberg be damned.

 

[donaldtoo]

"And, that's all I've got to say about that."

 

[sweetpee_1993]

All that I've just read here is yet another of the many reasons I will probably never open an FB account.
Mark *uckerberg be damned.

I know. And if it hadn't been the desperation to get my kids involved with a homeschool group I wouldn't have either.

 

[flynnibus]

what specifically makes you think you got hacked?

People often get confused because someone sees a mail coming from their friend that is junk and think they got hacked without digging further. The 'from:' line of an email means nothing.. it's purely a label. A common tactic used is to forge the 'from:' line to a familiar name.

 

[annawilliams]

Most awkward email hack ever happened to me a few years back. My only two contacts on my email were my Grandpa and boyfriend (now husband). The hacker emailed them a ton of viagra ads and links. The best part- my grandpa didn't realize it was a hack and couldn't make eye contact with me for days. When I told him he was so relieved and said "Thank God. That was incredibly awkward!" hahahaha.

 

[Ariel484]

what specifically makes you think you got hacked?

People often get confused because someone sees a mail coming from their friend that is junk and think they got hacked without digging further. The 'from:' line of an email means nothing.. it's purely a label. A common tactic used is to forge the 'from:' line to a familiar name.

I got one of the emails from @sweetpee_1993 it was just an email with a link, no text. Seems like a hack to me.

 

[flynnibus]

I got one of the emails from @sweetpee_1993 it was just an email with a link, no text. Seems like a hack to me.

What is important is the email headers to see if it actually came from her provider and account. I can send you an email with junk in it and make it look like it came from anyone. The thing is to see if it actually came from her. There are lots of possibilities... such as simply having one's contacts harvested and not actually having the account compromised, etc.

 

[Ariel484]

What is important is the email headers to see if it actually came from her provider and account. I can send you an email with junk in it and make it look like it came from anyone. The thing is to see if it actually came from her. There are lots of possibilities... such as simply having one's contacts harvested and not actually having the account compromised, etc.

When I got the email it looked like it was from her (looked the same as other emails she's sent to me). I'd go back and look but I deleted it ASAP when I thought it was a hack/virus situation.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

what specifically makes you think you got hacked?

People often get confused because someone sees a mail coming from their friend that is junk and think they got hacked without digging further. The 'from:' line of an email means nothing.. it's purely a label. A common tactic used is to forge the 'from:' line to a familiar name.

Well, my red flag was the dozen or so Mailer Daemons in my inbox where the contacts the hack tried to send to were no longer any good. Some of them I knew weren't any good but left there for sentimental reasons...like a former co-worker and good friend who was killed while riding in the funeral procession of another deputy/friend who was killed days before on-duty. Then my mother-in-law called me to ask if I had emailed her. Nope. My cousin's wife texted me to tell me it looked like I'd been hacked. It wasn't a fun morning yesterday.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

What is important is the email headers to see if it actually came from her provider and account. I can send you an email with junk in it and make it look like it came from anyone. The thing is to see if it actually came from her. There are lots of possibilities... such as simply having one's contacts harvested and not actually having the account compromised, etc.

I see what you're saying, Flynn. I changed the password immediately. Went back today and changed passwords on everything sensitive. Trying to do the best I can.

When I got the email it looked like it was from her (looked the same as other emails she's sent to me). I'd go back and look but I deleted it ASAP when I thought it was a hack/virus situation.

Sorry about that. I feel so bad...even tho every time I have received hack emails from family or friends I'm never mad at that person, just feel bad that happened to them....

 

[Ariel484]

Sorry about that. I feel so bad...even tho every time I have received hack emails from family or friends I'm never mad at that person, just feel bad that happened to them....

No worries! As you said, I feel bad that it happened to you...


...and I am totally with you on the evils of FB, whether or not it's related to the possible hacking of your email.