# Unwanted Email from Facebook

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by crazy_cat (Just a crazy cat) on Monday, 20-Dec-2010 18:40:15

I keep getting messages from facebook stating that someone on facebook has sent me a message on facebook. The only problem is that I don’t even have a facebook account. So if I do not have a facebook account, then why the heck do I keep getting these messages? Is there any way these messages may be a virus of some kind?
I am currently being indicted by my college of violating the terms of acceptable computer use, and I am wondering if it may have been possible that I put some kind of virus on the computer by accidentally clicking on one of these emails while checking my email on campus.
I cannot remember visiting any websites that are not connected to my academic work. However, apparently on Wednesday, November 3, 2010, I supposedly visited some kind of gossip website that somehow put a virus on the computer. Is it possible that accidentally opening up an unsolicited email from facebook could have put a virus on the computer? Is there any way to get rid of these unsolicited emails from facebook? Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

## Post 2 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 20-Dec-2010 19:04:08

Yeah, it definitely is possible that someone could creat fraudulent Facebook emails. It certainly happens with places like PayPal for example. Have you used an anti-virus program to clean your computer? Also, depending on the kind of virus you got, you may need to reformat your computer to completely ensure that it's clear of everything. That's a pain in the ass, I know, but if, for example, that virus installed a key logger, you're not safe. You could also try contacting Facebook, and seeing if they know of scams where people are sending out fraudulent emails in their name, and what those emails might really contain.

## Post 3 by synthesizer101 (I just keep on posting!) on Monday, 20-Dec-2010 19:04:20

I'm not sure about a virus, but you could block the addresses that send you the stuff. You could also periodically delete you're internet history, cookies, temporary files, etc, unless you already do.

## Post 4 by wildebrew (We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?) on Monday, 20-Dec-2010 20:09:26

First, block the email if you can.
In Outlook you can right click the message (or use shift=f10( and find @junk mail@, hit enter and then there is an option to mark sender as junkmail.
Now those messages go straight to your junkmail folder.
With GMail you simply check the check box for the offending message and mark it as spam, and that should do it.
If you use other email software there should be spam/junk rules you can use and mark messages as such.
With your computer, genreally, Super Anti Virus tnds to be very effective at removing malware.
MalwareBytes anti-Malware is also very good, these two play nicely together so no reason not to install both of them.
You can go through www.filehippo.com to find links to these programs.
They are both straight forward and accessible.
Try those two things and see if that fixes the problem. Contact your college and explain that your computer was compromised, ask if they have suggestions for how to fix it. Many universities have free anti virus software for students that they can get from a local web site.
The software I mentioned does not pick up the most complex root kits and viruses.
good luck

## Post 5 by crazy_cat (Just a crazy cat) on Monday, 20-Dec-2010 21:55:46

Thanks for the responses thus far, however the computer that I supposedly infected with a virus is not mine. It is a public computer that I use on campus. Therefore, I do not have any control over what programs are installed on the computer.
I have a hotmail email account that I have been using for years now. When I check my email, I generally just go to the hotmail website. Is there anything about using the hotmail website that would have allowed a virus to get on the computer?
I honestly have absolutely no idea what the heck I’ve done wrong as I have been checking my email on the campus computers for quite some time now without any problems. What could I have possibly done wrong for something like this to happen? I do not recall doing anything out of the ordinary, so I am really baffled about this whole situation.

## Post 6 by synthesizer101 (I just keep on posting!) on Monday, 20-Dec-2010 22:08:46

Websites can run lots of code, malicious or not. I wouldn't expect the hotmail one to be infected, but it might be. I would set up a gmail account.

## Post 7 by wildebrew (We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?) on Monday, 20-Dec-2010 23:14:08

Using HotMail should not subject the computer to any risks whatsoever, unless you openned attachments in that email (and even then, it would be surprising if HotMail let such attachments through, usually the online mail providers scan for viruses).

## Post 8 by starfly (99956) on Tuesday, 21-Dec-2010 8:08:47

To add to the post I use msn or hotmail either way same company it says in hte meail body "links, pictures, and some text have been blocked for your safty." then it gives you an option to unblock it. Did you make a mastake and click on this link? If so then here in lies your problem. If not then I to am stumped how a virous or trojon got on the public school computer.

## Post 9 by crazy_cat (Just a crazy cat) on Tuesday, 21-Dec-2010 14:55:41

Well, like I said, I do not recall doing anything out of the ordinary. And it feels like I am basically guilty until proven otherwise. I just don’t understand how the hell I can be blamed for something like this when half of the time the college does not properly maintain the computers that are set aside for students with disabilities. I have been working so hard to finish up my degree despite all the crap I have to put up with from the disabilities office. And to think that all my hard work could all be for nothing all because of something so stupid. I mean how exactly can it be my fault if they failed to turn the pop up blocker on? I was not doing anything wrong, and yet this still happened to me. And I just feel like I have absolutely no way to defend myself against these allegations when I really did not do anything wrong.

## Post 10 by SFAIdol (the Zone BBS remains forever my home page) on Thursday, 30-Dec-2010 1:43:07

How does the college know that you supposedly visited a gossip Web site? How could they trace it to you? I'm sure that people other than yourself use the same computer you do.

## Post 11 by synthesizer101 (I just keep on posting!) on Thursday, 30-Dec-2010 2:03:00

I bet you have to log in to access the computers, so they could track the internet use by different accounts.

## Post 12 by crazy_cat (Just a crazy cat) on Thursday, 30-Dec-2010 16:23:29

Yes, you need a user id and a password to log into the computer. I am not a computer geek by any means, but somehow they were able to trace the source of the virus to my user account. I am still not quite sure what I did or what website I went to that would have put the virus on the computer though. In fact, I’m not even quite sure what the heck a gossip website is in the first place.

## Post 13 by rat (star trek rules!) on Friday, 31-Dec-2010 13:49:07

i'd suggest asking them point blank what site it is you visited from their logs, and any actions taken before you visited it. they can't hold back that info, if was your account you should have the right to know.

## Post 14 by starfly (99956) on Monday, 03-Jan-2011 8:21:45

Better yet, did you allow any applications request's to access your facebook account? If so there in could bee your problem. Still I agree its you right to know what just happened.

## Post 15 by synthesizer101 (I just keep on posting!) on Monday, 03-Jan-2011 16:40:58

He doesn't have a faacebook acount.

## Post 16 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 14-Jan-2011 17:23:52

I find it interesting that a colleges public computer would even be set up to allow programs to run. Seems to me this charge brought to you is in correct? Most libraries, and other educational public computers are set up so that all that sign in to them are not admins, so you should not be able to install programs, or even go to web sites not allowed, if the college decided you should not. Also it is the institutions responsibility to protect their public equipment, not yours. Interesting claim. All the advice you have gotten here is sound however, so this issue is not your fault.

## Post 17 by crazy_cat (Just a crazy cat) on Wednesday, 19-Jan-2011 21:40:13

Yes, I agree. I believe what happened to me was not my fault. However, I am still the one who is being blamed for what happened to the computer. And if I cannot find a way to defend my innocence then some kind of disciplinary action will be taken against me. So far I have not been able to receive a copy of the computer log, so I honestly do not know what kind of hard evidence they have against me. But then again, I have not received a copy of the report that was file against me in the first place, so who the heck knows what might be in it.

## Post 18 by bea (I just keep on posting!) on Saturday, 29-Jan-2011 8:30:12

You poor kid. I know that may sound strange for a senior citizen to say but i had a bad bad problem with a virus once and had to have a real computer person in to clean up the mess. Is there a computer genius in your circles who could sit down and clean up the computer and maybe find out what happened? I would definitely deal with a sighted person who could sit down and look at your scrreen on this one. My heart goes out to you especially when you can't defend against this junk.

## Post 19 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 01-Feb-2011 0:35:44

It is a public machine, so the user can not repair it. That is your defence, and the charges are trumped up my friend. If you have no spedcial user code, then you can not be tracked. Get help from a free lawyer if need be. Call the ACLU they'll give you a hand.