[plug] Problem with laptop running Ubuntu 8.10

[Bret Busby]

On Thu, 5 Feb 2009, Bret Busby wrote:

> 
>
> Hello.
>
> I have an HP/Compaq NX5000 running Ubuntu 8.10, in a multiple boot 
> installation. (Well, it was, when it was operating properly)
>
> I have just gone to look at an image that was displayed in a web browser 
> window the last time that I used the computer (a couple of days ago), and the 
> screen displays only the background, with no desktop, no panel, no date/time, 
> or anything else.
>
> Nothing responds on the computer; <alt><F1> to got to a console (if that 
> works in Ubuntu), <CTRL><ALT><DELETE>, and, the ON/OFF switch.
>
> What do I do, without destroying either the computer or the systems 
> installed, to get it working again?
>
> We had a power blackout here today, for about 10-30 seconds (the electricity 
> supply is damngerous in this area), but surely, the battery should have taken 
> over, without doing any damage.
>
> Thanks in anticipation.
>
> --
> Bret Busby
> Armadale
> West Australia
> ..............
>

Hello, again.

I have today had a repeat of the problem with the same method of 
getting the computer running again, but this time, wiyhout the 
electricity failure.

Anne told me that I should look at the system log file.

Up until the reboot today, the following sequence is repeated in 
/var/log/syslog.

"Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Rescanning queue.
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1231716749.1775
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[6500]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1233443743.8437
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[6501]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1231628741.22927
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[6502]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1233530277.15826
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[6503]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1232232460.13061
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[6504]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:29 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1230418817.14646
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[6505]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1232320175.28327
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[6506]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1232923332.27635
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[6507]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1232837305.28068
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[6508]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1234023362.8011
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[6509]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1233270272.11994
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[6510]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1231091569.8818
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[6511]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1234134628.24359
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[6512]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Starting delivery: 
protocol: smtp host: mail. file: 1231022337.7154
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[6513]: smtp: Failed: Connect 
failed
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Sending failed:  Host not 
found
Feb  9 11:57:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Delivery complete, 14 
message(s) remain.
Feb  9 11:58:30 bret-laptop nullmailer[5158]: Rescanning queue.
"

While that is happening, after the screen is locked and then gone blank, 
and then after I reactivate the screen by logging back in, once again, 
the screen displays only the background, and the only two things that 
work, are that I can use the mouse to move the pointer, and holding the 
power button down until the system powers off, allows me to reboot the 
computer.

What is happening, and, how do I fix it?

What is the nullmailer, and, how do I find what messages it is trying to 
send?

It appears to me, that some malicious software is trying to send 
unauthorised mail from my computer.

Thanks in anticipation.

--
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
  you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
   Chapter 28 of Book 1 of
   "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
   A Trilogy In Four Parts",
   written by Douglas Adams,
   published by Pan Books, 1992

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