Outlook Sent items contains emails that were...

[Shaftatplanetquake]

Firstly, I don't have access to the computer which the problem is present on. It is the boss man's computer and I guess he doesn't want me looking at it until I look elsewherre for an explanation as to why this could be happening.

The emails are of a spamm-ish variety. They look like commercial spam, with lots of mis-spellings. Nothing Pennis or annimalgoat fukkking variety sort of thing- but still crap just the same.

Does anyone know of some kind of exploit that could be running which would actually use the outlook engine to send its spam?

Thanks

 

[clange50]

ISPs shut people down for this constantly. That PC needs to be cleaned.

 

[InlineFive]

Sounds like Bossman is engaged in some shady activities. Until his PC is cleaned and he reforms his habits I bet you'll keep having these problems.

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

Originally posted by: clange50
ISPs shut people down for this constantly. That PC needs to be cleaned.

Every program I've ever seen that sends mail on its own has its own built-in mail sending engine which would have nothing to do with outlook.

I've never heard or seen anything which is actually willing to dump what it sends into the outlook sent items mail folder. It would seem to me that this is stuff which is somehow getting into this folder in a different way than would traditionally be expected. I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't actually sending the stuff out at all. It doesn't seem to be any more than about 10 messages a day, and seeming to be going to invalid email addresses (or at least obscurely named ones).

I need to ask him to forward some so I can look at the message headers.

 

[clange50]

If he was sending it himself, why ask you about it? Something is sending it I suspect, but like I said I have no direct knowledge of it, and if it leaves things behind in sent items its pretty crappy malware. Who knows.

 

[mechBgon]

Get that machine some good current-generation antivirus software, max out the detection settings everywhere possible, update, and run a scan. If you want a suggestion, try a 30-day free trialware of Kaspersky AntiVirus Personal 6 from here. Uninstall all other antivirus software first, so they don't clash.

 

[RebateMonger]

What version of "Outlook" are we talking about here? Outlook? Outlook Express? Which version? And what operating system?

Recent versions of Outlook and OE are pretty well patched against being used to send SPAM. Earlier versions COULD do it.' But, as others noted, it's a pretty lazy way to send SPAM. Most 'bots use their own custom SMTP engine.

If my computer was sending out emails on it's own, I'd be zapping it, re-installing the entire OS, making sure I had Anti-Virus and active Anti-Spyware software installed, and I'd be taking a class on Internet Safety.

 

[btcomm1]

He definetly has a virus. Seems like a poorly programed one considering it's showing the spam it's sending out in the sent folder. So tell him he has a virus, and do what mechbgon suggested.