Can ppl on the net get ur email when ure browsing?

[Consider]

Okay, my email is quite old, ive had it for absolutely ages, and it never (practically - maybe once a year) gets any spam emails (alhamdulillah).

When Im surfing on the net, I usually have outlook express running in the background, now is it possible for someone on the net to access your computer and somehow get your email address?

Sorry if this is a silly question. But Ive had some emails coming from unkown persons, and that is quite unusual, but I never open them...

and another thing...I have McAfee virus scan usually running, and internet filter and download scan are enabled...but sometimes I see that they are disabled when I havent diasbaled them...this is kind of worrying as u should always have that on, so why does this happen? A design fault???

[thekid]

As salaam alai kum

As long as you keep the "file and print sharing " option off you neednt worry about someone gaining access to your computer under normal circumstances. Disable this option incase you have it enabled.

Trojans have a client and a server. In simple english that means that there needs to be part of the software installed on your computer which will then allow someone access to your system. With programs like outlook express you may download attachments which contain these remote administration programs however as long as you dont click on the file (run the program) nothing will be installed on your comp. So dont open any attachments even if you think they are simple photos as exe files can be disguised as jpeg (image) and other files.

People can get your email address in a number of ways. Most of time it is the company which gives it out or some place where you signed up using your email ID (like this forum). Employees of ISPs at times sell these to make a quick buck.

Your anti-virus could be behaving that way due to some corrupted files......sorry cant exactly tell you why without knowing exactly what you installed after installing the antivirus. Tell you what - uninstall the antivirus and install it again.

Incase you want more security you could install a firewall. try zonealarm. Its free.

[umar al-khattab]

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

As-salamu'alaykum wa rahmatullahe wa barakahtahu

As long as you are connected to the Internet then your Hard Drive is Vunerable therfore your e-mail account especially POP 3 accounts which Outlook typically is.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Wasalamu'alaykum Wa rahmatullahe Wa barakahtahu

[seven]

in my opinion.... don't use outlook, it's way too vunerable.... there are many other email clients that you can use.

[thetruth]

Salam

==========================================
When Im surfing on the net, I usually have outlook express running in the background, now is it possible for someone on the net to access your computer and somehow get your email addres?
==========================================

It is very easy for some to manage to hack into your pc. All they need is the IP address of the PC you are using whilst servring.

However, only PC whizkids wold be able to obtan this info.

So unless some one has got a personal vandetta against you, I dont think you have got much to worry about....

PS. Just to add, are you using KAZAA, Napster like software, coz if you are then thats the problem. Use a firewall which will tell you if a certain computer (ip address) is tryin to access your pc.

[baba]

Whizz-kid? Script kiddie, more like.

[AbuMubarak]

Originally posted by seven
in my opinion.... don't use outlook, it's way too vunerable.... there are many other email clients that you can use. i hve heard that

do you know of any and how do they compare with outlook and outlook express and stuff?

[baba]

Generally you will be ok if you have a good firewall (such as ZoneAlarm for www.zonelabs.com) and a virus scanner that you update daily.

[AbuMubarak]

thanks baba, now i feel better