When I checked my MSN email account this morning, I noticed some strange
emails. First of all, the junk mail filter usually does a more than adequate
job of screening all offensive email, but one, subject line "Is this your
porn pic?", or along those lines, made it in my inbox. I deleted the
message, but I think it might be related to other strange activity. I also
noticed I had significantly more emails in my junk box than a normal day (I
check and delete its contents everyday). Also in my main inbox were two
emails from Symantec_Antivirus_for_SMTP_Gateways@absq.net, subject line
"Content Violation", which stated there were content violations in an email
message from me to a couple of email addresses that I've never written to in
my life. They also had the phrase "File(s):bill_regards.txt.pif" in the text
of the email. The addresses are not in my inbox, anything. I use dial up,
so my computer was not connected to the internet when this activity was going
on (the afternoon of Jan 28th), so I don't think it can be due to some
malicious software on my machine. I immediately updated my Norton Antivirus
software, and scanned my entire machine, and it returned no viruses, but
recommended deleting one "high risk" file that contained adware. I'm also
actively using MSN's beta anti-spyware. Checking my inbox about 4 hours
later, it appears no other strange activity has happened. How else might my
email account have been compromised and what can I do about it? Is my email
account safe with MSN?