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Messenger Safety and Security Tip

May 5, 2010 on 11:02 am | In 10 version, 9.0 version, Mac version, iphone | 51 Comments

As most of you know, Yahoo! takes security and spam infiltration seriously and employs various measures to help protect our users.

Very recently we learned of an issue where some users have received spam messages in Yahoo! Messenger from their contact list. Yahoo! Messenger has quickly worked to resolve the situation.

As always, we recommend that any Yahoo! Messenger user who receives a suspicious IM containing a link should first IM the friend to ensure the message is legitimate before moving forward. We strongly advise users to not download executable (.exe) files that are sent through Yahoo! Messenger. Also, we recommend that users that have anti-virus software on their computer employ the latest anti-virus updates.

Thyaga Vasudevan
Product Manager

51 Comments »

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  1. sent me anygairl and woman

    Comment by hesham — May 5, 2010 #

  2. yea thats so right … especially about the exe files thing …. thank you so much

    Comment by A.J — May 5, 2010 #

  3. I find going on the Y! chat sites really increases your IM spam. The aliases are a great workaround.

    Comment by Mike — May 5, 2010 #

  4. thank you for keeping an eye on this(exe) files spam///

    Comment by anna — May 5, 2010 #

  5. HI,
    my name is Dean.

    Comment by Dean Sabado — May 5, 2010 #

  6. We need safety for our Yahoo Messenger!!.. Thanks!!..

    Comment by Patricia — May 5, 2010 #

  7. hol

    Comment by moon — May 6, 2010 #

  8. esta es mi nueva pag. de internet para k todo lo kquiera puedan hablar conmigoy cnocernos mejor
    .

    Comment by rosa maria — May 6, 2010 #

  9. [...] informó en un post que está al tanto de la existencia del malware y ya está trabajando “para resolver la [...]

    Pingback by Dattatec: Cuidado: Gusano en Yahoo! Messenger — May 6, 2010 #

  10. [...] said in a blog post that it was aware of the issue and working to address [...]

    Pingback by Thai Brothers’ Sharing Blog » Blog Archive » Worm spreading via Yahoo Messenger — May 6, 2010 #

  11. [...] said in a blog post that it was aware of the issue and working to address [...]

    Pingback by Worm spreading via Yahoo Messenger | Free software's news, reviews, downloads and guides — May 6, 2010 #

  12. Thanks for looking into this matter to make a Y! Messenger a better place

    Comment by Yogesh Saxena — May 6, 2010 #

  13. [...] said in a blog post that it was aware of the issue and working to address [...]

    Pingback by Worm spreading via Yahoo Messenger | Take A Plunge — May 6, 2010 #

  14. [...] informó en un post que está al tanto de la existencia del malware y ya está trabajando “para resolver la [...]

    Pingback by Código Hibrido » Blog Archive » Cuidado: Gusano en Yahoo! Messenger — May 7, 2010 #

  15. [...] from their contact list. Yahoo Messenger has quickly worked to resolve the situation,” the post said. “As always, we recommend that any Yahoo Messenger user who receives a suspicious instant [...]

    Pingback by Worm spreads through Yahoo messenger | — May 7, 2010 #

  16. [...] su parte, Yahoo! ya ha anunciado que está trabajando para solucionarlo, mientras tanto recomienda a los usuarios que no abran [...]

    Pingback by Symantec advierte de un peligroso gusano en Yahoo! Messenger | MuySeguridad — May 7, 2010 #

  17. [...] said in a blog post that it was aware of the issue and working to address [...]

    Pingback by Worm spreading via Yahoo Messenger - news computer,tutorial,tips and trick,hacking,cracking,phone cell,software — May 7, 2010 #

  18. [...] la aplicación de Yahoo! para distribuir nuevos enlaces entre los contactos.El equipo del mensajero ya está al tanto del problema y trabajando en una solución. De todas formas, recomiendan evitar la descarga de ficheros .exe, [...]

    Pingback by Virus amenaza a los usuarios de Yahoo! Messenger | Bitelia — May 7, 2010 #

  19. [...] En Yahoo! ya saben del inconventiente y sus expertos se encuentran trabajando para lograr una solución. Pero, mientras tanto, la compañía advierte a todos los usuarios de Instant Messenger que eviten, en lo posible, descargar archivos a pesar de que provengan de contactos conocidos, que no descarguen archivos ejecutables y que mantegan siempre, y como regla, el antivirus al día, en condiciones y actualizado. [...]

    Pingback by Alerta de virus en Yahoo Messenger — May 7, 2010 #

  20. [...] equipo del mensajero ya está al tanto del problema y trabajando en una solución. De todas formas, recomiendan evitar la descarga de ficheros .exe, [...]

    Pingback by Virus amenaza a los usuarios de Yahoo! Messenger @ Blog DDS.media — May 7, 2010 #

  21. [...] [...]

    Pingback by Anonymous — May 7, 2010 #

  22. Paltalk Its FREE VIDEO FRIDAY tonight ( 3-6PM EST and then later @9PM-Midhnight EST).

    http://www.facebook.com/Paltalk

    Comment by paltalk user — May 7, 2010 #

  23. [...] ha reconocido el problema y explica que está trabajando para resolverlo y previene de la descarga de cualquier archivo que proceda de [...]

    Pingback by Circula un peligroso virus por la mensajería de Yahoo! « El Bloguero de Arkotxa — May 7, 2010 #

  24. [...] su parte, Yahoo! ha reconocido el problema y ha recomendado fervientemente a los usuarios que no descarguen archivos ejecutables [...]

    Pingback by Virus de Mesenger ahora en Yahoo! « La red en candela! — May 7, 2010 #

  25. [...] ha reconocido el problema y explica que está trabajando para resolverlo y previene de la descarga de cualquier archivo que proceda de [...]

    Pingback by Circula un peligroso virus por la mensajería de Yahoo! | El Jacaguero — May 7, 2010 #

  26. [...] En Yahoo! ya saben del inconventiente y sus expertos se encuentran trabajando para lograr una solución. Pero, mientras tanto, la compañía advierte a todos los usuarios de Instant Messenger que eviten, en lo posible, descargar archivos a pesar de que provengan de contactos conocidos, que no descarguen archivos ejecutables y que mantegan siempre, y como regla, el antivirus al día, en condiciones y actualizado. Archivado en: Programas [...]

    Pingback by Alerta de virus en Yahoo Messenger :Argentina Geek 2.0 — May 7, 2010 #

  27. [...] said in a blog post that it was aware of the issue and working to address [...]

    Pingback by Worm spreading via Yahoo Messenger | OC Nerd — May 8, 2010 #

  28. [...] cuidado a la hora de abrir archivos, aunque provengan de direcciones conocidas. Por su parte, Yahoo! admite el fallo de seguridad y asegura estar trabajando para resolverlo cuanto [...]

    Pingback by Symantec alerta de un peligroso virus en Yahoo! Messenger « Tecnología del hardware y software — May 8, 2010 #

  29. there are still lifeless ppl who boot messenger thru the voice chat in room….so i see how u take the SECURITY “SERIOUSLY”….u take the security in your chat so “SERIOUSLY” that i cant use your yahoo messenger 10 alone to be protected-i need to use either ytunnelpro which has some protocol mode that protects booters but also block the cam from connecting ur servers or i either need to use some other client such as YAHELITE…this is how u take the security “SERIOUSLY”(U MADE ME CHUCKLE WHEN I READ THAT)

    Comment by shery — May 8, 2010 #

  30. [...] equipo del mensajero ya está al tanto del problema y trabajando en una solución. De todas formas, recomiendan evitar la descarga de ficheros .exe, [...]

    Pingback by Virus amenaza a los usuarios de Yahoo! Messenger « Todos Geek — May 9, 2010 #

  31. [...] gente de Yahoo! ya está al tanto del problema y trabajando en una solución. De todas formas, recomiendan evitar la descarga de ficheros .exe, [...]

    Pingback by Virus en Yahoo! Messenger — May 9, 2010 #

  32. [...] Via « El Cloud Computing necesita dispositivos más inteligentes [...]

    Pingback by Virus peligroso en el Yahoo Messenger | Blog BCN Binary. Tecnología e Informática — May 10, 2010 #

  33. Hola,
    hoy es Martes, de la manana de Honolulu, HI. A todo senoras en Honolulu, hola y muy gracias tambien con mensaje ver en internet aqui. Voy a no escuela e ahora peru mi el aceptar computadora persona. Dean Sabado

    Comment by Dean Sabado — May 11, 2010 #

  34. Hola,
    hoy es Martes, de la manana de Honolulu, HI. Ver de especial la mujer es muy grande esta es. Su nombre el Nancy Coles of Honolulu, para el trabajar un momento que eso ahora, dosmil dos, muy gracias el saber su. Dean

    Comment by Dean Sabado — May 11, 2010 #

  35. I love you Nancy Coles. Dean Sabado

    Comment by Dean Sabado — May 11, 2010 #

  36. [...] informó en un post que está al tanto de la existencia del malware y ya está trabajando “para resolver la [...]

    Pingback by Cuidado: Gusano en Yahoo! Messenger | Ociowarez.CoM — May 12, 2010 #

  37. Hola,
    Hacer mas a pansar esta el grupo con computadora el campo de deportes de pueblo. Dean

    Comment by Dean Sabado — May 13, 2010 #

  38. i’m curious as to why you haven’t addressed blocking people who are not in our “contact list” from being able to ask if we’d add them.

    i’m really tired of having to “ignore” all these spammers from trying to “chat” when they have nothing to do with me at all. i would have thought “ignore everyone not on my contact list” would do just that. not just blocking the actual IM from getting through.

    this never used to happen – so can you work on that, please?

    Comment by amanda — September 9, 2010 #

  39. It’s common sense really. The only thing you’d want to share are images. If you’re going to download something via MSN you’re going to face a few problems.

    1) download speed (usually very slow)
    2) it’s most likely containing a virus.

    Moral of the story- Use some common sense!

    Comment by Exclusive — September 26, 2010 #

  40. Really thanks for the sharing the information about the how to blog create… so thanks for the sharing this information…

    Comment by Stephen Fleming — November 2, 2010 #

  41. thank you sharing
    was a great article.

    Comment by blackberry servisi — January 12, 2011 #

  42. Yes, you should take some considerations before aprove any new contact that you dont know.

    Comment by Contactos — January 27, 2011 #

  43. being part of those who received spam messages im glad i now know why…close to deactivating my yahoo account

    Comment by chloe acne treatments — March 4, 2011 #

  44. Safety and Security Tip

    Comment by thee fab — March 11, 2011 #

  45. Great tips. But the best is to take messenger from the official page.

    Comment by rezultate live — April 10, 2011 #

  46. Oh, thanks for sharing this! Today, we became aware and we learned tip for the safety of our yahoo messenger since we really need it, nowadays!

    Comment by Dog Fashion — April 13, 2011 #

  47. Nice spot,
    Thank you for this security.

    Security Companies

    Comment by Brian — May 13, 2011 #

  48. hanks for sharing this!

    Comment by lilei — May 16, 2011 #

  49. I have a message that I love yahoo

    Comment by Buy MBT — June 14, 2011 #

  50. Positively entrancing blog post.

    Comment by Wan Desmarais — June 30, 2011 #

  51. There should be care taken to ensure you know the dangers of accepting certain files on messenger, but also to keep up to date with the latest harmful viruses in circulation. Be careful who you accept as a friend as spammers can get hold of your usernames from various different sources.

    Comment by Sam The Fire Safety Training Man — September 14, 2011 #

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