Consider it compromised/hacked.
sounds like you have malware. do a full av check and build a Microsoft or norton (I’m sure there are others) boot AV scan usb stick or cd. If your hotmail account is infected MS will likely fix it soon.
PS if you don’t have a anti malware (not the same as anti virus) go get superantispyware.com and run it.
I went through this and just helped my friend who got hacked.
The only thing that can be done is for them to open a new account, then clear all contacts directly from the hacked account. (If they clear it from the computer itself, it does no good.)
Then they close the old account and don’t ever touch it again. (If you log on to check it, you reopen it and start the 6 month waiting period to close the account over again.)
It took me three *years* to stop my hacked emails from being sent.
Just inform them of the situation, then block their hacked email.
Please be kind and patient with them. It’s not their fault.
Just let them know that if they delete all the contacts and emails from the hacked account, the spam will stop, even if they can’t close the account.
Crikey, I 'ope not but you should be able to tell that y'self...
They probably hacked your hotmail account and pulled all the addresses from it.
My hotmail, (seldom used) not used in registrations nor given to strangers, had the problem of sending spam to everyone on all my email accounts. Changed to a super strong password and it all stopped. Password consists of caps, lower, numbers, puncuation etc
I have not used Hotmail in years, but check it every month.
It, along with MSN messenger seem to be drying up.
I am happy with Yahoo mail and messenger, as it has a good spam filter that puts junk mail in a separate folder that I can check. 99 percent of all my Yahoo mail is good mail, and rarely does a good mail turn up in my spam box.
I use Gmail for all commercial inbox mail, such as WND or Newsmax post.
If you know how to read email message headers, you can likely determine where they came from, unless the headers are forged (spoofed). Still, you could be able to determine a common denominator and set your spam filters to defend against that happening again. If you don’t know how to do that, google it like this...how to read email message headers in {name of your email client}. There are plenty of how to’s, even on Youtube that’ll help you with it.
What email client are you using?
Last, contrary to others who’ve had a bad experience with Hotmail, I know that Hotmail staff are responsive to LEGITIMATE Spamming/Hacking/Virus/Malware/Trojan reports. I’m not new to Hotmail. I have one of the first 1000 Hotmail addy’s, that was way before Microsoft bought them. And I’m keeping it, not because I’m a fan, but because I dislike MS and I’m stubborn. lol
After you’ve made an determination, let them know and provide your findings to them. You may, or may not, hear from them. If it’s serious you will. I tell you this from experience and having been involved with assisting them and the FBI in identifying a PedoPorn operation involving hacking accounts and sending trojan laden spam.
It’s also possible that someone got a hold of someone’s email list. It happens. Usually when one sends an email to their whole list, and they send it as To: instead of BCC: That’s a huge security risk, now, everyone on that list is exposed to the weakest link in the list. So, if this is the case, why then did you receive only from those with a Hotmail acct? It’s common for hackers to bulk send through one server through one service provider at a time to someone using that same provider. It may bypass some security features that way, and MS is known for taking shortcuts.
To protect your accounts on services such as Hotmail and Yahoo, etc., you should use an email client to manage your email, instead of the web interface. You have twice the security, twice the filters (rules), local control, and your password stays on your (hopefully) secure machine.
I’m pretty tired right now, I hope I was clear enough. :O)
Same thing happened to my wife last week, we changed her password.
Hotmail has given us few problems, so I will continue using them. Open up a new Hotmail account for trash email. The last time Toys R Us asked me for my email account I told her it was “trash” at hotmail dot come. It has worked for years, once a month I’ll go into that account and delete everything in it.