Help! Hacked mail server?

[DrWilloughby]

This morning I wake up and I have 300 new messages, most of which are returned mail sent from addresses like LindaLockhart@pocketwatchgames, which is an email address that does not exist. I'm now getting about 100 messages an hour into my inbox and spam box.

Honestly, I'm not a very good techie, so I don't have any idea what's going on. Has someone hacked the outgoing mail server (Yahoo is my webhost)? Could someone be doing this without having hacked anything? Anyone have any ideas on how to remedy?

[Savant]

It's easy enough to spoof the "from" email address and when it bounces, it'll fall into YOUR catch-all email account. If you have a catch-all account routed, try deleting it. My web host strongly recommends against having one for this very reason. Some spammer decides to use your domain as their return address and boom, spamgasm.

[Tom Cain]

Something, most likely a virus, is spoofing addresses with your domain in them. This means it's just making up addresses and putting them in the From field of an email. None of this has to happen on your equipment. You do receive bouncebacks to the spoofed addresses, though.

A quick way to cut down on what you receive is to not use a catch-all email address. Set your email to reject email to the pocketwatchgames domain that isn't an actual address you created. You'll never see email to LindaLockhart@pocketwatchgames that way.

Rejected mail sometimes counts against your bandwidth allowance. It's possible for it to cause bandwidth overage charges. I've had this happen to me several times, it can get expensive.

[papillon]

On the bright side, these pointless spoofing attacks generally only run a day or so. It'll be better in the morning. :)

[DrWilloughby]

On the bright side, these pointless spoofing attacks generally only run a day or so. It'll be better in the morning. :)
Thanks Doc! :)

Yeah, I called Yahoo tech support and they had me remove my catch-all. Thanks for the help everyone...

[Tom Gilleland]

I would find this Linda Lockhardt and ask her where her work is for your next new game. ;)

Tom

[cliffski]

google for 'joe-job' This happens to me all the time. I get about 30 mail bounces a day even now. Luckily my gmail account filters them all into spam. Good old spammers eh?