Porn email sent in my name

[Farley]

Because I wasn't getting ALL my email on the Apple email site (I've asked for help here on this before and only got others saying they have the same problem) I started to use the AOL mail site to get my mail – including the ones Apple mail didn't show — A VERY BIG MISTAKE! Somehow, someway, someone has captured all my email addresses on my AOL list and is sending porn and cheap drugs email in MY NAME to friends, business relationships, etc. Luckily(?) two were sent to dead people so the email was returned but the others were received.

What can I do? How badly has my computer been compromised? The phony email messages have only to do with AOL. I would hate to have to change my email address and would that really “clean” my computer? This is very distressful – I had blithely felt that nothing could hurt me with my Apple. Thanks for whatever help you can render.

 

[MacDawg]

Sounds like an AOL Mail site problem and not a problem with your computer

First step is always to change your password

 

[dotme]

^^ This

It's highly unlikely that this has anything to do with Apple. Much more likely that the password was weak, or someone was tricked into giving it up.

 

[Farley]

changing password

Thanks. Will do. And I think I posted on the wrong site. Sorry to all iOS 5 people.

 

[GGJstudios]

How badly has my computer been compromised?

Your computer most likely was not involved at all. Someone simply hacked your email password to gain access to your mail account, or they spoofed your email address. Change your email password(s) to something complex, including upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.

Since you asked in the other thread you started on this, I'll address your anti-virus question, as well. You don't need any 3rd party antivirus software to protect Mac OS X from malware. Macs are not immune to malware, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on Mac OS X, and there never have been any since it was released 10 years ago. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which can be easily avoided with some basic education, common sense and care in what software you install. Also, Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion have anti-malware protection built in, further reducing the need for 3rd party antivirus apps.

Mac Virus/Malware Info​