The Digital Surgery (computer questions/problems here)

[dtaai-maai]

My Yahoo email account was hijacked earlier this morning and a short email with a spam link sent to my contacts.
I've cancelled the account and opened one with gmail.
I've downloaded Thunderbird to handle my email offline.
I've run anti-virus and anti-malware scans - no problems reported.
I'm changing all passwords.

On-line advice says just change your password, so I may have overreacted. But although it's a huge pain changing email address, I don't think I'd have felt secure carrying on with the same provider. Anyway, it's done now.

Anything else I should be doing to make sure it can't happen again?

[buksida]

This is usually very common with Hotmail, first Yahoo account I've heard getting hit.

Gmail wont be a great deal better, it is still free webmail and you're at the whim of Google's filters.

The only way to truly avoid such things is by having your own domain name and securely hosted email server - however that is not free!

[barrys]

I've seen other yahoo accounts hijacked over the last couple of months - looks like it's on the increase.

[Siani]

My Yahoo email account was hijacked earlier this morning and a short email with a spam link sent to my contacts.
I've cancelled the account and opened one with gmail.
I've downloaded Thunderbird to handle my email offline.
I've run anti-virus and anti-malware scans - no problems reported.
I'm changing all passwords.

On-line advice says just change your password, so I may have overreacted. But although it's a huge pain changing email address, I don't think I'd have felt secure carrying on with the same provider. Anyway, it's done now.

Anything else I should be doing to make sure it can't happen again?

I am also on gmail..v good
I also have ESET Smart Security which I share the cost with my son. You can share up to 4 users. They have a free trial if you want to try it. I think it is well worth the cost.

Link for free trial

http://www.eset.co.uk/Home/Smart-Securi ... fAodsjEGXQ

[buksida]

Anti-virus and security software won't prevent free webmail accounts getting hacked and spreading malware. Not using them will!

[dtaai-maai]

Would you recommend those who use email mostly for personal/family communication to pay for a domain name?
What does this normally cost?

I have used aol (as an occasional back-up) and mainly yahoo for about 10 years without a serious problem until now.

[Pleng]

A domain name costs between a fiver and a tenner a year.

Absolutely worth it.

[buksida]

Yes, domain names are very cheap, but you still have to pay for hosting. Well worth it if you value and rely on your email.

Contact these guys if you want more info: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=20054

[Pleng]

Most domain names come with free email accounts even if you don't go for a hosting plan. At least all the resellers I've dealt with do.

[buksida]

So where is the email stored then if you don't have hosting/server space?

A domain is just that, the name, if you want extras it'll cost a few bucks more. A 100 MB IMAP account doesn't come free with a ten dollar domain on any registrar I've seen though I'd be very interested if you know of any.

[Pleng]

IMAP, no. But pop3 and webmail has come included with all domains I've purchased and sold on. I never actually make use of them because I have a hosting account too, but all the domains I have purchased include a 1GB email account included in the $10 registration fee.

[buksida]

Can you PM me the link to the provider you use - I'll check them out, a free gig of space with every domain will be very handy.

[GLCQuantum]

Firstly, I know crap all about computers...

I recently reformatted my Lap Top as it was basically dying a slow and painful death with all the viruses I'd managed to get on there. My friend installed Windows 7 (I think?) rather than XP which I was originaly using, and have used for a while.

My issue is that, when I start typing a website in the 'bar at the top' (*see first line of post) I get all these BS 'suggestions' from Bing. Now it's not a real problem until you start accidentaly clicking on these fockers.

How to get rid of these 'Bing' suggestions please. Thanks in advance.

[Spitfire]

Look through your program installations and uninstall all the crapware (of which toolbars certainly are), which probably is anything you don't recognize but check first on a search engine by copy&paste it to see the result on it. The way to avoid them is to read carefully what every new program you install has attached to it as much crapware is sneaked onto you PC/Laptop by not properly reading the bumf they give you before you install what you really want.

If you use Firefox then also block Google tracking too.

[Roel]

Ah, reminds me of my days in the country side internet shops where your computer had standard five different tool bars and a flaming sword cursor! I always started my sessions with getting rid of all that first.