Outlook XP security problem

[jcr3]

When opening and/or deleting an unsolicited e-mail I received in my Hotmail (I was using IE6 to access my account), I detected that a response was automatically generated and sent to the sender. Even though I was using the web-based email, that e-mail was processed and via MS Outlook without any copy of it being saved in any folder. The e-mail used as "sender" of that message was my Outlook address, rather than the hotmail one.

How do I prevent this from happening again?

Also, I think these kinds of practices are unethical, if not illegal. How can I act against them?

 

[Rob Schneider]

If you were using IE to access the web-based email, how did Outlook on
your desktop have anything to do with it.

In Outlook you can configure how requests for help are handled. See
"Tracking Options" in Options. Read in Help more about it.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms

 

[Cerridwen]

Also, I think these kinds of practices are unethical, if not illegal.
How can I act against them?

By running a full scan with an up-to-date AVP - you're infected with a
mailing worm.

 

[jcr3]

Thanks to both

- I assume it must have been some sort of malicious script, which came with the e-mail.
I had set up Outlook to ask me before sending confirmations (Tracking options), but I was never warned that a similar message was being generated by Hotmail. Other than this, I thought that copies of the tracking messages were kept in some folder..

- I just realized my firewall was not activated (the antivirus was), but I don't think it would have made any difference, as it was just a normal e-mail sent with my smtp