got attacked after visiting MS website

[nh39]

This message is not to defame microsoft but just to warn/share with everyone a bad experience I have with its newsgroup forum. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this but here it is. Yesterday, I went to microsoft's newsgroup to post a question about outlook. There it had the option for me to provide my e-mail address, so, I did. Two minutes after posting the message, I started to get infected messages sending in (total 54 message since yesterday and more coming.) Though, the server is well-equiped with anti-virus and have blocked all of the infected messages, the point is that what's up with microsoft? They provide their customers this forum and how could they have let this happen? If you think it's something else or know something I don't know, please let me know. Thanks a million.

 

[kiddpete]

Since they are such a big target, they are probably watched closely for email addresses. I usually use an alternate address for those groups. Have you reported the problem to the group coordinator?

FYI, porn vendors watch the Yahoo groups, and use Yahoo's facilities to broadcast mail. They post messages, and the messages are relayed by Yahoo to those who want email notification.

 

[smah]

MS newsgroups are open to the public. No login is required to read or post. As such, anyone (or any automated harvesting program) can collect valid e-mail addresses for spamming purposes. This is true of any public newsgroup. Thats why you will often see signatures like:
someone.at.somewhere.dot.com
removeme_someone@somwhere.com

This is to defeat the e-mail harvesting programs. Real people can figure out what to modify or remove to contact the person. Most e-mail harvesting programs can't.

So, as much as I like to blame MS for computer problems, this one's really not their fault. As kiddpete mentioned, they're a big target and there are literally thousands of postings in those groups every day.

 

[nh39]

Thanks guys for for the info; you live and learn everyday. Maybe I didn't look hard enough but I didn't see a way either to report the problem to group coordinator nor to delete/modify my message. At least, from now on I know how to avoid such problem.

 

[smah]

The same thing can happen when posting your real e-mail address anywhere on the internet. You'll notice that very few real e-mail address are posted in this forum. When someone does, it's usually a free (throwaway) account for just this reason.

Also, if you use a newsreader like OE to read newsgroups, be sure to 'modify' your e-mail address in the account properties.

I just looked at mine - couldn't remember what I used. It's realusername@realdomain.nospam.com If a real person looked at that, they should be able to figure out to remove the .nospam if they really needed to contact me by e-mail.

 

[dbMark]

Once you get on a spam list, it never ever stops. In November 2002 eBay for a few hours listed all bidders email addresses onscreen. Ever since I've gotten at least 2 to 5 per day, regular as clockwork. Recent ones go beyond spamming and now include the spoofing method trying to get account information.

I guess I'm fortunate it's never risen to an unmanageable level.