Here's a puzzle.

[bobbie-dazzler]

The weirdest thing happened when I was on holiday, but only found out when I came back.

Somehow, someone has sent 3 emails to people in my contacts list using my email addy, they had sent emails suggesting to go to a certain link to buy a computer.

The first I heard of it was when I got an email back from one of my contacts saying they dont need one, plus my OH got one sent through to where he works, also my son got one in Germany!!!

I wasnt here when these emails were sent, my PC was shut down for the duration of my holiday, hubby was at home while I was away, and he never uses my PC, as he has his own personal laptop, which he hardly uses anyway, and there is no one else that has access to my home let alone my PC.
I have two seperate passwords, one is for when I actually turn on the PC before it goes into IE, and a different one to sign in for my emails.

I think I need to change my passwords just incase, but here is the problem, I dont know how to do it, and what password would I change

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated, bearing in mind I am not techi minded, and I use that term loosely.

[darrenba]

Bobbi,

Immediately change the password that you use to sign in for your emails. What type of email do you have? Hotmail? Yahoo? GMail?

[bobbie-dazzler]

Hi darren, thanyou for your prompt reply, as I am a tad worried.

I'm yahoo for my emails, I have a hotmail account, but never use it, I always use yahoo.

[darrenba]

Ok, if your Yahoo email is similar to my BT Yahoo email then when you login there is a "My Account" link at the top of the screen, click that and you should be taken to a screen where there's a "Change my Password" link.

[darrenba]

Here you go - proper instructions

http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/mail/o ... nt-03.html

[Chris_J]

Click on options near the top right corner, select mail options, then Account Information. Sign in when the new window pops up and then follow the change password link.

Change it to something a little complex like a phrase you can remember, and maybe change a vowel or 2 for a number such as Sp4rky etc etc

[darrenba]

Also make sure your password isn't something that's easily guessible. Try and use a combination of letters and numbers.

For example, "P4s5w0rD"

[bobbie-dazzler]

Thanks again to both of you, done it, still a puzzle though how they got the last password.

[darrenba]

What sort of protection does your PC have? Antivirus software?

You should also change your PC password too. Press CTRL-ALT-DEL and choose the Change Password option.

[DIY_Johnny]

you should do a full malware and Virus scan on your PC, you can get password easily by keylogger viruses

[bobbie-dazzler]

What sort of protection does your PC have? Antivirus software?

You should also change your PC password too. Press CTRL-ALT-DEL and choose the Change Password option.

I have all the anitvirus stuff, plus I have updates thingies all the time.

Change password ctl-alt-del christ, you'v got me there, you need to talk me through that one.

[darrenba]

If you don't have any anti-virus / malware software installed here's a good start for a free one. Just download and install

http://free.avg.com/gb-en/homepage

[bobbie-dazzler]

you should do a full malware and Virus scan on your PC, you can get password easily by keylogger viruses

lol, something else I havent a clue... Keylogger

[bobbie-dazzler]

If you don't have any anti-virus / malware software installed here's a good start for a free one. Just download and install

http://free.avg.com/gb-en/homepage

Will that interfere with the one I already have?

[darrenba]

OK

Like when you login to your PC, press the CTRL - ALT - DEL buttons at the same time. You should have a window pop up and in that window there should be a Change Password button, just click that and follow the instructions.