Thunderbird Shredder Ver3 security ques by newbie.

[Attech]

Hi All,
I just loaded Linux Ubuntu on my laptop and am using Shredder ver3 as my mail client. Someone seems to be interfering (possible hacker) - with my mail connection. It struggles to find Telkom (pop3 mail box with them) and then bombs out; did some reading up on this and it seems brute force attacks. I have firewall setup on laptop & router & browsing Internet seems fine - only have this with my mail. What can I do & what are my options? I tried to activate the built in security with Thunderbird but message I get is that the mail server does not use these features. Would appreciate suggestions as this is interfering seriously with my life.

 

[kingrob]

Login to the Telkom mail server and change your password for your mailbox. And make it a strong password....use capitals, lower case + numbers.

*Why you using Thunderbird? Evolution is definitely the better one to use. Very good integration with the OS.

 

[MyWorld]

1) Do you get this only while using Ubuntu or how do you know it is a hacker trying to hack your email account?

2) Does everything work without a hitch on Windows?

If the attack is server side then there is nothing much you can do but change your account settings like mentioned and reporting it to Telkom.

 

[kingrob]

It's Chinese hackers we have to thank for the latest wave of email spam/attacks.

My Hotmail account was recently compromised and they used it to spam anyone and everyone.....I'm still getting mail delivery failure notifications. Most probably spammed a poor dude's address book via my Hotmail account.

Was really mad about this, cos they also managed to spam all my friends in my address book with my account and I had to explain to everyone why I'm spamming them.

 

[kingrob]

Oh....was thinking of closing my Hotmail account, but had it since 1999, so a bit sentimental about it.

So all I did was to login to the Windows Live servers and change my password to a really bad and kick-ass one. Problem sorted.

 

[MyWorld]

hmmm, time to change that passwords again...
brb

 

[kingrob]

hmmm, time to change that passwords again...
brb

Yeah, believe it or not, I have never changed my password since I signed up in 1999. lol

Was not a very strong password, so I guess it didn't take them long to crack it.

 

[Attech]

Login to the Telkom mail server and change your password for your mailbox. And make it a strong password....use capitals, lower case + numbers.

*Why you using Thunderbird? Evolution is definitely the better one to use. Very good integration with the OS.

Tks for suggestions - as newbie was advised that Thunderbird was more secure. I am involved in a Block Watch committee and have very confidential data on PC.
Am not too clued up with settings - but will read up & try anything - like I notice the App has built in SSL, security certificates + some other options, but it does not seem to be supported by ISP's.
Will give your suggestions a try & post findings.
Same goes to other contributors - advice & suggestions noted; am going to give everything a try after breakfast.

 

[Attech]

It's Chinese hackers we have to thank for the latest wave of email spam/attacks.

You are right in some respects here - I did notice some unusual IP addresses in my firewall logs; went onto "http://www.ipillion.com/" - did a search & quite a few seem to point to China a few other places. My theory is that they are operating as a clique/group; if one finds a likely victim, they all seem to latch upon the poor bugger.
Can one not pull the plug on them? Ban those IP addresses?