[Publius6961]

Christmas eve, I sent out a dozen or so messages using Yahoo instant messaging. IE6 is my browser.
I have a properly set up harware firewall, use Norton, Spybot and Adaware, and in spite of all that, within hours I was accused of attempting to "hack" into several computers.

The entire message sent: "Merry Christmas".

I am still attempting to straighten out that mess.

[ShadowAce]

IE6 is my browser.

Hmmm. I think I see your problem

[IamConservative]

Sounds more like Yoohoo Messanger than IE.

My kids use AOL Messanger. That thing is one big spyware magnet.

[Mannaggia l'America]

I have a properly set up harware firewall, use Norton, Spybot and Adaware, and in spite of all that, within hours I was accused of attempting to "hack" into several computers.

The entire message sent: "Merry Christmas".

They probably thought you had the W32.ERKEZ.D virus.

It sends out e-mails with "Merry Christmas" (among other things) in its subject line. They are probably just flagging anything with "Merry Christmas" in the subject line rather than looking at the contents of the e-mail.

I have been getting pummeled by e-mails from Italy with "Buon Natale" in the subject line and return e-mails with it in the body, apparently with my address spoofed in the From: address.

I can cut these off at the mail server, but it's a real pain. I'm getting something like 100MB of these e-mails a day.