Please Help Me! Spam is being sent out from my email address...

[SugarSkyHigh]

I don't know how, but emails with links to viagra sites etc. are being sent out from my email address! I have all the appropriate firewalls, scans etc (Norton anti-virus) but its' still happening...

anyone have an idea at all as to what I can do? TIA

Anyone can send an email and say it is 'from' you - just the same as writing a letter. There is nothing you can do about it.

Norton Anti-Virus does not include a firewall (but I presume you are using windows built-in firewall) or protection from browser malware so you might consider upgrading to a full Internet Security product or even the free Microsoft Security Essentials.

I had this happen last year. A lot of people in my contacts got a email from my email account containing just a link to a viagra site or similar.
I think someone hacked into my account when I logged on at college.
I changed my Email password and deleted anyone in my contacts who I don't contact regularly.

They may well not be coming from your computer- they could be coming from someone else's who has you in their address book, in which case here's nothing you can do about it. But these things tend to stop of their own accord after a couple of days because of anti-soam measures run by the ISPs. So don't panic, but make sure your security software is up to date.

Change your password and download and install an antispyware program such as Spybot search and destroy.

Well thank you all! I have:
changed my email password;
deleted everyone from my address book;
downloaded and installed spybot search and destroy ( which found 2 spyware things, one called Double click, and another called I think, Nex something or other).

mranchovy - I think my Norton does actually have a firewall. ?? I've just looked and it's Norton 360, if that makes any difference.
fruitshootsandheaves - I;m loving your name! prism - glad to hear this could stop of its own accord, and I will double check my security software. theVisitor THank you for mentioning Spybot S&D! I wonder how these kind of people can exist, considering they offer free downloads. Maybe they hope people will buy an upgraded service.
Thank you everyone who took the trouble to reply and help me out!

Another place with downloads listed (such as MS Security Essentials, Belarc Advisor, and other useful tools to check a Windows PC or remove malware) is SaveMyButt.com - great name huh!

NB it is run by a guyin the Chicago area so the 'DSL connection' info will be aimed at USA users.

Belarc Advisor mentioned above is a handy tool to get details of your PC (type of things you might need to check the spec against some software you are considering buying), but also checks for items being out of date security-wise.

I'm just running it on 4 of my machines as it was 2008 when I last used it on them!