Tuesday, January 24, 2012

WTF?!?

Now I can't send an email without getting this shit:
The message was not sent because of an error. Your message was not sent. Please click on the URL below, complete the image puzzle, and then resend your message. http://challenge.aol.com/en/us/spam.html
What the hell is this? Another virus?
I'll have more later, if I can figure this shit out.

22 comments:

MamaLiberty said...

Sounds as if you tried to send an email to someone who had a particular kind of spam filter that requests a captcha verification. Not unusual, and I encounter some like that.

Not a problem with your system at all. :)

Dedicated_Dad said...

You've likely got a virus sending SPAM e-mail, so AOL has implemented "prove you're a human" tools to shut it down.

Since the virus can't figure out the captcha, it can't send any more SPAM.

Anonymous said...

very possibly it is aol's takeoff on the scam comcast is currently executing to generate revenue - comcast has been sending out warning emails to their customers's accounts from the comcast "security team" indicating "there are indications a bot / trojan has taken over your computer" and suggesting the customer visit comcast's security / virus control pages on their web and download "xxx" security program - that is FREE, so they can scan their computers. When that software finds a virus or whatever, the customer discovers that to remove it from their computer they'll have to pay $129 for the full version of the software

throw an email at aol and see what they respond, ie if they suggest you download their free software and run a scan

fwiw

Steve said...

Mike,

You've probably already tried every anti-virus/spam/malware on the planet, but just in case... I use Avast as my main anti virus software (which is free) to stop threats while surfing, and I also use Super Anti Spyware and Malwarebytes anti-malware (both also free). Avast works in real time, and I run the other two weekly to clean up anything that Avast might have missed. Occasionally a tough bugger gets on my system and I will have to run Super Anti Spyware and Malwarebytes in safe mode, but I've never had any major problems cleaning everything using this system. Not sure if that will work for you, but for what its worth...

Pvt.Joker said...

Hate to sound like a techno-partisan, Mike, but stop using AO-Hell and you will likely be happier. Try Gmail. It works for me.

Anonymous said...

It's not a virus? Is it happening on all emails or just to the recipient at AOL? Looks like someone turned on their anti-spam filter for their email address. It's the same idea as me having to plug in the little letters below this message in order to assure I am not a bot accessing your page. Try sending to someone with a gmail account etc. You shouldn't get that with other email addresses you send to.

Anonymous said...

Even yahoo and gmail use this. It is an attempt to stop a spammers from using your account to send email.

Anonymous said...

WTF are you doing using AOL in the first place?

Anonymous said...

Probably not. It's probably a software error, since it is alo, who are notorious resource hogs to begin with. Add to that the fact that you use windows, with all the additional resources that requires, and I'm not surprised.

recommendations, loose aol and loose windows, install Linux, choose a new mail server. These are especially true if you have an older machine.

Anonymous said...

Cutting and pasting that message in an internet search resulted in this:

http://www.justanswer.com/computer/2pdoj-i-m-trying-send-e-mail-pop-up-window-shows-up-telling.html

Hope it helps.

ParaPacem said...

Maybe a DOS attack on AOL? Did you look at this site:

http://aolanswers.com/questions/http_challenge_aol_com_en_spam_html_9518613011981

Anonymous said...

Man, they are messing with you. My phone still freezes and powers down every time I come here on it. It only happens on this site. I had to purchase security protection for my laptop just to come here. I hate having security enabled as it slows my pc down so much but....

AtomicSpud said...

Your email error explains it all: AOL!!! America Online is the virus- just ask any real computer tech. their ancient spyware infested add-ware programs and crusty-busted email service caused more than a few headaches around here. we dumped them and just use free Hotmail and Norton Internet Security 2012. If AOL your isp and your using their "free antivirus and anti spyware" it would explain a lot of the troubles you've been having.

Jazz said...

I have gotten similar "challenges" on my hotmail account, except it took me straight to the "what's the word" section, similar to that which appears below where we leave a comment, here.

Anonymous said...

AOL? Really?

Google is your friend:

http://aolanswers.com/questions/reply_message_aol_mail_support_5184183110566

AOLMailMarcel Answered:
This should only happen when you sent too many mails in a row. This "captcha" only pops us a way of rate limiting and prevent potential missuse by spammers.
If you did not send to many mails but still get this, make sure to change your password so your accounts doesn't get misused by somebody else.
If you still get this problem, sign into http://webmail.aol.com and click on the feedback link (bottom of the page) and fill out some technical details. The folks at AOL will try to help you then

parabarbarian said...

AOL is limiting the number of emails you can send in a given time frame. AOL servers get blacklisted with a depressing regularity and this is just an attempt to try and control the amount of mail the spammers send out.

Pat H. said...

Get rid of your P C and get a Mac. I've used one since day one and have NEVER had a virus attack.

Used ones are very reasonable.

Anonymous said...

Not to change the subject, but it suggests a praxis on communications techniques in the, er, um, future...

Anonymous said...

Time for a complete wipe of one of your machines. Use that one for submissions only. That way, you can communicate OUT.

Anonymous said...

As noted, your problem is AOHell...the only VIRUS people choose to use!

Dan / Chicago

Grant said...

I guess it should be no surprise that Steve Case went to Punahou and graduated a year or so after the imposter. There was probably some disease communicated.
Sadly I went there 14 years earlier.

Anonymous said...

I cut and pasted the URL in separated window and and aol page came up directing me to verify. when I did it I no longer had any problems. Prior to that I called aol and they wanted me to pay for Tech support.