Competitions Discussion Thread Part 8

Winjackie

Hi all

Don't know if this is the right place for this. A couple of days ago I found out that my hotmail email address had been hacked into. I found this out because my daughter (who is in my contact list) asked me why I had sent her an email advertising cheap electricals I had not sent this email to her but it had definitely come from my hotmail address. Upon checking my "sent" emails, I found that this message had been created in my "on vacation automated message" and sent to everyone on my contact list!! As I only use this email address for my competitions I can only assume that this is how someone has managed to hack into it (although I am not technically minded so there may be other ways). I just wanted people to be on their guard, just in case.

lilias

just_thrifty wrote: »

Hi, have just caught the comping bug recently and have managed to post a few myself. Just wanted to ask- if you post a comp, do you report when it's finished, and how do you do this? Thanks in advance.

The board guides will move it into Game Over when it's time.

shesarebel

50+

xoxlauraxox wrote: »

I've contacted Royal Mail a few times but they just ignore me.... would you be worried if this had happened to you or am I just over reacting??

Central RM to sorting offices communication is abysmal. Try contacting your sorting office directly - you should be able to get their number by phoning 08457 740 740 (or it is on any red card you get for missed delivery). It can be a bit of a pain getting through to them - most have limited hours (7.30 till 2 is quite normal) but if you persevere you should get through to someone there and they can stick a trace on your mail. Be nice - sweet talked posties are a lot easier to deal with! And sometimes asking for the direct number for the managers office might help (I have mine but I'm a business account customer. Don't see any reason they wouldn't give it to a eprsonal customer as well though)

Whether or not they figured out who was being light fingered from our depot, I don't know but my mail stopped going missing.

shesarebel

50+

Winjackie wrote: »

Hi all

Don't know if this is the right place for this. A couple of days ago I found out that my hotmail email address had been hacked into. I found this out because my daughter (who is in my contact list) asked me why I had sent her an email advertising cheap electricals I had not sent this email to her but it had definitely come from my hotmail address. Upon checking my "sent" emails, I found that this message had been created in my "on vacation automated message" and sent to everyone on my contact list!! As I only use this email address for my competitions I can only assume that this is how someone has managed to hack into it (although I am not technically minded so there may be other ways). I just wanted people to be on their guard, just in case.

Ohh, thats a pain. A couple of things. Firstly do you run antivirus AND antispyware software on your computer regularly? You really need to be running programs like adaware and spybot which clean up all manner of nasties that your antivirus software might miss.

And secondly... do you use a different password for your email account to the one you use to log into sites on which you enter competitions?

jaxdia

31 - 50

Winjackie wrote: »

Hi all

Don't know if this is the right place for this. A couple of days ago I found out that my hotmail email address had been hacked into. I found this out because my daughter (who is in my contact list) asked me why I had sent her an email advertising cheap electricals I had not sent this email to her but it had definitely come from my hotmail address. Upon checking my "sent" emails, I found that this message had been created in my "on vacation automated message" and sent to everyone on my contact list!! As I only use this email address for my competitions I can only assume that this is how someone has managed to hack into it (although I am not technically minded so there may be other ways). I just wanted people to be on their guard, just in case.

You know, that's bizarre. The same thing happened to me the other day too. Thinking about it, I was using the same password on my comping email as I did to log into websites.. hmm... maybe some naughty compo runner is responsible?

Anyhoo, yes, I would recommend changing your email password. I have and it hasn't happened again (yet).

retrofan

Hi

I used to list on comp on here from my husband's website that has just started running again. I noticed that you need to put it in the referrers section and declare interest? so I posted it there but it's been removed. Am I allowed to post it? Emma

kipper_2-2

retrofan wrote: »

Hi

I used to list on comp on here from my husband's website that has just started running again. I noticed that you need to put it in the referrers section and declare interest? so I posted it there but it's been removed. Am I allowed to post it? Emma

You are not allowed to post things like that as its deemed as advertising. It was probably removed from the referrers board for that exact reason.


ADVERTISING

This site is free from advertising. Posts on any board considered to be advertising goods, services and/or companies will be removed.

Examples of this can include anything from a specific sales post or a link to your own website in which you attempt to sell something to someone offering their holiday home to forum members. Unfortunately we cannot allow any advertising of any description no matter how honourable the intention.

shesarebel

50+

jaxdia wrote: »

You know, that's bizarre. The same thing happened to me the other day too. Thinking about it, I was using the same password on my comping email as I did to log into websites.. hmm... maybe some naughty compo runner is responsible?

Its more likely a site is infected with something thats harvesting all the submitted material and passing it on without the owners knowledge. Information theft is often largely automated (which makes sense if you think about the scale).

toniq

50+

right my mse page has gone funny, i have a report post triangle and the grren button had got words offline/online xxx and lots of other weird things on main pagexx now some bits normal but its mega slow for me xxx

fire**fly

31 - 50

Is there something wrong with the site , the thanks button isn't working for me again & pages are taking forever to load can any one help please ?