13-12-2011, 11:07 AM
1) It's probably not to do with her email account specifically (but not certainly - as it might be a server-level bug). It's probably more likely that her computer is infected with something that is using her email account to covertly spread itself.
2) There is a chance that the computer has been compromised (see above), but it's unlikely to do any great harm to it or she would probably already know about it (i.e. the thing wouldn't work). It's more likely that the bug will attempt to extort money from her and her email friends via scareware and false advertisements. If she stores unencrypted passwords or bank account info on it then it might steal those too. It might also have a keylogger; which will attempt to use information she types into the computer to establish bank login details and whatnot.
Solution: wipe it out. She needs to run anti-virus/spyware software to remove it. If that fails to find anything (which would surprise me), then she should contact her email provider to find out from them what it could be.
Hope it helps.
2) There is a chance that the computer has been compromised (see above), but it's unlikely to do any great harm to it or she would probably already know about it (i.e. the thing wouldn't work). It's more likely that the bug will attempt to extort money from her and her email friends via scareware and false advertisements. If she stores unencrypted passwords or bank account info on it then it might steal those too. It might also have a keylogger; which will attempt to use information she types into the computer to establish bank login details and whatnot.
Solution: wipe it out. She needs to run anti-virus/spyware software to remove it. If that fails to find anything (which would surprise me), then she should contact her email provider to find out from them what it could be.
Hope it helps.