Can email spam really do that???

librarian

Junior Member
Jul 2, 2001
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OK, I got spammed. It happens to the best of us. Except this is one of those cases where there is another, more serious issue. One of two things happened with that message: either someone used my computer while I was away (and the email client was running (no lectures please)), or someone has figured out how to send spam than comes in "pre-read."

"Pre-read" means that when the message arrives (if you use Pine) there is not an "N" at the left edge of message line in the index, or (if you use Eudora) there is no blue dot at the left edge of the message line. Or if you haven't the slightest idea what I'm talking about, the envelope in your mailbox already has the top slit open and someone's fingerprints on the letter inside.

Which means :frown: that someone either is figuring out how to spoof our servers, or someone read my mail while I was away from my desk. Can anyone tell me is it is possible to fool a server that way? NO, I do NOT want to know how, if it is possible at all, I just need to know if I can trust the people in my office.

In case it matters, it is an IMAP mailsys on SunOS (and that's the extent of my knowledge).

Thanx in advance!
 

DAM

Diamond Member
Jan 10, 2000
6,102
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76
Possible, it might be, however there really is no need for such thing. Think about it, new mail usually goes to the top of the list on top of the old mail, why would a spammer want to go to the bottom of the list and risk the chance to never be read. Perhaps if the email in quesiton had a "juicy" subject line someone opened it cause they were intrigued.




dam()
 

librarian

Junior Member
Jul 2, 2001
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Except that in the mail clients I use the mail is not moved when it is read, only the "new" mark is removed. And of course, the spam had mention of sex with farm animals. I'm not sure of what this says about my coworkers.
 

TomC25

Platinum Member
Oct 12, 1999
2,120
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I'm not sure of what this says about my coworkers

Reminds me of a time about 4 years ago we noticed porn sites in the history of the shipping computer.

The time stamps were for like 11 at night til like 2 in the morning, so it was the cleaing person.

It was animal and gay porn.

HAHAHA
 

dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
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Don't think it would change read status, but, maybe some filtering software caught/flagged it and someone read the mail to see if you were doing something you shouldn't. Big Brother may be watching you? :p