Just recently I've been getting multiple messages into my Hotmail inbox stating;

"Delivery Status Notification (Failure) from Postmaster@mail.hotmail.com

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed."

Each message relates to an unknown person with email addresses a letter or so different each time

Later in the message there is varying message, but all relating to a replica watch site.

What can I do?

What can I do?

Nothing - assuming these are NOT responses to emails you are sending.

Unfortunately, this is often the result of a badguy spoofing your email address in spam he is sending out. The other end rejects it, and you get the rejection notice. He is not really using your email "account" (unless your computer has been compromised), but he has forged your address into the header of the spam he is sending, so folks don't know the real source.

All you can do is "hurry up and wait" for him to move on to another address - which they tend to do every few days. If it keeps up, your only option is to abandon that address and choose another.

Sadly, in the meantime, your address could get blacklisted by various ISPs causing email you send to your contacts to be rejected. So keep an eye out for that.

There is really no way to prevent this from happening again in the future. But you can minimize the possibility by never posting your address in public places, like in a post on one of these forums. Badguys troll forums, chat and social sites looking for legitimate email addresses to use, or to add to spam lists. Never forward jokes or chain emails and tell your contacts not to send them to you. Sadly, many folks simply forward them along and everyone can see the addresses of all the other recipients.

And to be on the safe side, I recommend purging the hard drives of clutter and make sure your system is malware free. Use Windows (XP, Vista or Windows 7) Disk Cleanup, ATF Cleaner or CCleaner to clear out the clutter. If using CCleaner, uncheck the option to install the Yahoo toolbar during installation. Before first use, go to Options > Settings > Advanced and ensure Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 24 hours is unchecked. Know your site credentials (user names and passwords) for sites you frequent before cleaning; you may have to login again at next visit.

Download and install Malwarebytes's Anti-Malware (MBAM) and scan as follows:

Check for updates before scanning,
Select Perform quick scan > Scan,
When complete, click OK, then Show Results,
Ensure all is selected, and click Remove Selected,
When complete, save the log in Notepad to a convenient place for future reference.

Repeat for all computers in the "Trusted Zone" of your network (your side of the Internet "gateway" - typically the cable or DSL modem).

Windows Disk Cleanup Note: One distinct advantage Windows Disk Cleanup has over all other cleaners is that it also has the option to delete all but the most recent Restore Point. This can be significant as malicious code can hide there too. But I caution this option, found under the More Options tab, should be used only after careful consideration. If experiencing a problem that first appeared within the last couple days, do not use this option until sure System Restore can not be used to fix it. If the computer is running fine otherwise, and you are doing your weekly supplemental scans and want to root out as many potential malware hiding places as possible, I recommend setting a new Restore Point, and then use this Disk Cleanup option to clear out the old points.

Thanks v. much. I can't find any evidence that my computer security has been compromised.

I hope it goes away!

I can't find any evidence that my computer security has been compromised.

Sadly, many "legitimate" companies sell the email addresses of their contacts to Internet marketing companies who are nothing more than spammers selling legitimate products.

There has been a new development this week with a couple of emails arriving in the in-boxes of friends/contacts, attributed to me but definitely NOT. One was to a lawyer contact offering a link to a site selling pharmaceutical products! Rather embarrassing. I have run spyware detection again with no result. Any new suggestions?

Thanks!