How to stop spam emails from a deleted account?

Question

My hotmail account was hacked a long time ago. I followed the steps recommended by Microsoft to change my password and then deleted my account. But the hackers stole my contact list and is sending spam emails to my contact list (including friends, family, former teachers and professors) using my name but with a different email address.

I have already informed my contact list that I have been hacked but I want the hackers to stop sending any spam mails. Is that possible?

Answer 1

Assuming you have properly shut down the hotmail account. I'm afraid that the simple answer is "No". If you deleted it, you may have even allowed the spammer to legitimately create a new account under the same old address now too.

e-mail is not really authenticated - someone can send an email "from" any address to any other address as they please. They can make one up or use a real one (or use their own).

The only way to prevent this is for each and every email relay on the internet to only relay mail to/from their own domains (ie close all "open relays").

For what it's worth, a spammer could have sent mail "from" your account without having had to hack it first. The main thing they got from your account was your contact list and a brief time of being able to send e-mails that would have looked even more legitimate because hotmail would perceive them to be coming from "you - the person" as well as "you - the email address".