Almost everyone who has a computer will have received at least one e-mail telling them they have won X million on some lottery or other, or, inviting them to help someone retrieve money from some bank account.
If we are wise, we delete the e-mail and block sender. We are also advised that viruses can be sent to us in any e-mail, so we are advised not to open any e-mails from someone we don't know.
What I would like to know is, why, or is it possible, for some clever recipients to send back an e-mail containing a virus to try to put these sites out of action.
I'm not knowledgeable enough to know how to do this, but, if I were it would seem like internet justice.
Has anybody ever done this or would you if you could?
2007-03-12 00:15:23 · 9 answers · asked by mollysadler 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
It sound like a brilliant idea and yes you can send the email back it's called bouncing but unfortunately most virus infected email come from innocent senders.
The virus once it infects a computer will then search the address book and send itself to everyone in the address book bouncing would make matters worse
Viruses that don't come from an infected computer come from a spoofed email so bouncing it wouldn't work as it's nowhere to go
If only we could send the vires back to the morons who write them and screw their computers up if only
2007-03-12 00:26:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is a good idea but most of those emails are sent either through dummy accounts that do not reside on the senders computer or through hijacked systems and email accounts. By sending a vigilante virus to the senders account, you could be infecting in innocent bystander.
The reason that dummy accounts and hijacked systems are used is because most ISPs or email hosting companies will block spammers and those emails are spam being sent to millions of email accounts knowing that if 1% actually do what is requested then the have fooled 10,000 out of 1,000,000 people and made a fortune.
2007-03-12 00:27:38 · answer #2 · answered by Mortis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've thought about this for some while and will if I can devise a program to return a virus as such to the sender..the only problem is how to differentiate from real e-mails and scams..you would be sending viruses to innocent senders ..The program will have to be very good and large to do this...But I agree with your Idea...
2007-03-12 00:28:54 · answer #3 · answered by silver44fox 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it would be illegal to write a virus and knowingly spread it. Even if the motives are good, there is no guarantee that the virus will not spread to other innocent users. Someone thought they would hit back at a spammer by bombarding their site with emails. They had to abandon it when the law stepped in and told them they should stop.
2007-03-12 00:24:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What a good idea - not that I agree with 'vandalism' which is what these virus programmes are, waisting time and money, have also heard that people that create these virus's get headhunted and offered fantastic jobs by computer companies - urban myth I think? but might explain their motivation. Kinda like a career criminal becoming a security adviser
2007-03-12 00:22:56 · answer #5 · answered by northcarrlight 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you could save all unknown files before you open them or run setup, along with a text file with the email address. Then in the event it turns out to be a virus, and after you fix it of course, go back to where the saved file was and change the name, and send it right back.
2007-03-12 00:28:53 · answer #6 · answered by clone17 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You wonderful person - get on it straight away - what a great idea - that is your mission for this week!!
2007-03-12 00:22:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No idea how to do it, but, may god, its a damn fine idea
2007-03-12 00:18:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
agreed.
2007-03-12 00:20:03 · answer #9 · answered by K.i.t.t.y. L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋