Microsoft e-mail security

I have been getting thei e-mail from Microsoft very
authentic looking. Is this really from Microsoft? It says
last critical update--------- and so on. If this is from
Microsoft why don't it come through Microsoft up date. I
have Windows XP Pro. One more thing it comes with an
attachment I'm afraid to open it. What should I do?

Sincerely
Ron

charles
Tue Sep 23 21:13:55 CDT 2003

open the attachment


>-----Original Message-----
>I have been getting thei e-mail from Microsoft very
>authentic looking. Is this really from Microsoft? It
says
>last critical update--------- and so on. If this is from
>Microsoft why don't it come through Microsoft up date. I
>have Windows XP Pro. One more thing it comes with an
>attachment I'm afraid to open it. What should I do?
>
>Sincerely
>Ron
>.
>

helper
Tue Sep 23 21:13:24 CDT 2003

NONONONONONONO

"Authentic security bulletin mailers never provide the
patch itself or a link to the patch; instead, they refer the
reader to the complete version of the bulletin on our
web site, which provides a link to the patch"

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/policy/swdist.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/news/patch_hoax.asp

PLEASE Don't click on any email attachment you don't
know about. Because it will most likely be a VIRUS!!!!!!!
Even if you're all protected don't click on any unknown
email attachments.

Consider using these (free for home use) tools:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_download.html

DON'T open any attachments

Consider using these settings in Outlook Express:

Tools | Options | Security | Virus Protection

Choose "Restricted Zone"
Enable "Warn me when other applications trying to send mail as me"
Enable "Do not allow attachments to be saved..."

If you get infected, follow EXACT instructions from:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.swen.a@mm.removal.tool.html
http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/swen.shtml#disinf
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

On Windows XP enable firewall:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/networking/icf.asp

Keep up to date with:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/


"Ron" <rpwdynamic1@juno.com> wrote in message
news:0d8c01c3823f$9784a8f0$a101280a@phx.gbl...
> I have been getting thei e-mail from Microsoft very
> authentic looking. Is this really from Microsoft? It says
> last critical update--------- and so on. If this is from
> Microsoft why don't it come through Microsoft up date. I
> have Windows XP Pro. One more thing it comes with an
> attachment I'm afraid to open it. What should I do?
>
> Sincerely
> Ron

Bill
Tue Sep 23 21:31:21 CDT 2003

Here's how to tell if it is genuine or not (Hint--it is NOT.)

http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/authenticate_mail.asp

"Ron" <rpwdynamic1@juno.com> wrote in message
news:0d8c01c3823f$9784a8f0$a101280a@phx.gbl...
> I have been getting thei e-mail from Microsoft very
> authentic looking. Is this really from Microsoft? It says
> last critical update--------- and so on. If this is from
> Microsoft why don't it come through Microsoft up date. I
> have Windows XP Pro. One more thing it comes with an
> attachment I'm afraid to open it. What should I do?
>
> Sincerely
> Ron

N
Tue Sep 23 23:41:45 CDT 2003

In article <0b8801c38241$816a0540$a401280a@phx.gbl>, charlessmith@home.com
says...
> open the attachment

You are at least as malicious as the virus writer. I ought to just *plonk*
you, but you could become an amusing chew toy.

--
Norman
~I'll be there, by your side
~in the land of Twilight.
~In your dream I will go
~'till we find the Sunlight.

N
Tue Sep 23 23:48:55 CDT 2003

In article <0d8c01c3823f$9784a8f0$a101280a@phx.gbl>, rpwdynamic1@juno.com
says...
> I have been getting thei e-mail from Microsoft very
> authentic looking. Is this really from Microsoft? It says
> last critical update--------- and so on. If this is from
> Microsoft why don't it come through Microsoft up date. I
> have Windows XP Pro. One more thing it comes with an
> attachment I'm afraid to open it. What should I do?

Here is a simple test:

Is the message unsolicited?

Yes-delete it. No----> Does it have an attachment?
Yes-call the sender to ask if he meant to send it.
If so, tell him to zip it and send it again because your AV program ate
it[1].
If not, tell him your AV program ate it[1], and he should check his
computer for a virus.

[1] This may be a lie, but your friend does not need to know that, and it is
sufficiently succinct, and clear, that he won't play sixty-four thousand
questions with you.

There are technically more complicated tests that can be performed; but
unless you wish to know more about TCP/IP and SMTP services than the average
Internet user needs to know, that simple test is effective.

--
Norman
~I'll be there, by your side
~in the land of Twilight.
~In your dream I will go
~'till we find the Sunlight.

Gray
Wed Sep 24 06:53:15 CDT 2003

You are a highly witty and intelligent individual.
Oh, perhaps I need to explain - that was irony. You're a
jerk.
>-----Original Message-----
>open the attachment
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I have been getting thei e-mail from Microsoft very
>>authentic looking. Is this really from Microsoft? It
>says
>>last critical update--------- and so on. If this is
from
>>Microsoft why don't it come through Microsoft up date.
I
>>have Windows XP Pro. One more thing it comes with an
>>attachment I'm afraid to open it. What should I do?
>>
>>Sincerely
>>Ron
>>.
>>
>.
>