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Comment from dlh on 2009-07-20

2009-07-20T07:37:29Z

RE: Jeff's post and Leo's reply. What I've asked before and don't understand is why internet spam, scams, fraud, identity theft, etc. takes such a "back seat" with both internet service providers, et al, and with law enforcement. (I do realize lot of this crap originates in other countries.)

If a few (hundred) scammers/thieves got thrown in jail for 40 or 50 years maybe, just maybe, it would help.

Am I naive?

Ultimately: ISPs are busy enough just keeping things working, and while spam is annoying as all heck, it's -- annoying. Law enforcement tends to prioritize more serious crimes. My guess, anyway. (That being said, there are large sections of the FBI and other agencies battling it. It's juts a MASSIVE problem, and much, as you say, originates out of our jurisdiction.)

- Leo
20-Jul-2009

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Comment from Alex on 2009-07-02

2009-07-02T13:24:00Z

The first thing that you need to remember is that Hotmail or any other free web mail system is not secure, reliable, or open to argument if you lose it. Your only way to get decent free e-mail is the e-mail you get from your ISP (unless you are just too cheap to pay for a good ISP). I get 10 e-mail addresses from mine, and all my stuff, address book, saved messages, and other stuff is saved on my computer. Plus, do not use Lookout, er, I mean Outlook, Outlook Express, or Windows Mail unless you like to live dangerously. Try Mozilla Firefox, a true industry standard.

I suspect you mean Mozilla Thunderbird, the email program. (FireFox is the web browser.)

- Leo
02-Jul-2009

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Comment from James Ferris on 2009-07-01

2009-07-01T18:17:05Z

two notes...
First, when receiving any emails from any service, including from Hotmail, always examine the enclosed urls with extreme caution and prejudice. SPAMers love to send forged emails saying 'click here to get your account back'. This is actually how many people loose their account... clicking, giving their account info on a forged website, and that's that! When you get such an email, first check the providers help website (don't use the urls in the email to get there), and use the feadback access forms provided (eg the email address Leo gave in the atrticle). Then try logging in as you normally would just to see if there really is an issue.

Second, IncrediMail is great... but it's based on Outlook Express and Internet Explorer. So the weaknesses of each of these programs are the same weaknesses of IncrediMail. Neither can be really trusted for mission-critical email activities. The only truely business-grade email client from MS might be Outlook.

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Comment from Patricia Whitlow on 2009-06-30

2009-06-30T23:07:05Z

I use Hotmail as an email account since I left AOL. I have not had problems with it, but shortly after leaving AOL I found a program called IncrediMail. It is not an email provider, it is just a program that allows me to write and receive email. It also allows me to store my email and contacts right on my computer. It has a back up that I can use for my files and my contacts, which I keep on a safe source.
I was given to understand that outlook express is like this but I have never used it and know nothing about that. The incredimail was a free program when I first got it but I did purchase some addons. I can't imagine what on earth I would do without my IncrediMail program. It is such a great little program. If Hotmail locks me out I don't worry because all I would lose is one days mail. It comes into my incredimail each day when I open the account. Incredimail also has an add on Junk filter that is great.
Thought your readers might like to know.

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Comment from Jeff on 2009-06-30

2009-06-30T18:27:51Z

My daughter recently had her Hotmail account hacked and stollen. They changed the password and security question, so she could not log in or change her password etc. I filled out an online form that was rather lengthy, but within 24 hours she had her account back. She then closed it and opened a new account. The hacker sent out spam email to everyone in her contacts list asking for money in my daughters name. My daughter was alerted to this when a friend asked why she was asking for money.

I have traced the ip address to a military base in Arizona. What, if anything can she do to have this person caught and prosectuted if possible?

You'd need to contact law enforcement. In my opinion your chances of success are low, simple because there's so much of this, and it probably doesn't prioritize as high as other things the police need to deal with. But I could be wrong.

- Leo
01-Jul-2009

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Comment from Alan Newble on 2009-06-30

2009-06-30T17:04:34Z

What's wrong with Outlook Express or Windows Mail? I've used them for years, and any problems - the info is all there on my PC! Backed up if it is important.

I don't see how they relate to the article, but I will say this: based on the number of reports of lost and corrupt emails and database files, I would avoid Outlook Express for anything important. (Probably Windows Mail as well, since it's an Outlook Express derivative.)

- Leo
01-Jul-2009

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Comment from Mark Jacobs on 2009-06-26

2009-06-26T12:51:04Z

You for got the last and most important step. Be prepared to get the runaroung from Microsoft for several months before they solve your problem, if ever.

I had a problem sending from my GMX account to Hotmail. Hotmail flagged my provider as an abuser. It took several months for them to solve the problem and the problem continued to come back a few times.

I'd follow Leo's last suggestion. switch providers . GMail is great if you want to use an email client. Or Yahoo if you only use web mail. I like Gmail better even for web mail as yahoo sometimes does funny things with attachments.

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