Is this a spoof?

Operating System: windows XP
Connection Type: cable modem
Browser Type: ie 6+

Recently, when attempting to log onto hotmail via www.hotmail.com, I am now
being asked to "Match the pictures". After entering my password, I am then
redirected to another URL which prompts me to "Match a picutre" to enter. Is
this new to hotmail or a spoof? When I enter the characters, I do get into
hotmail, but this has never been there before. I am worried that it is a
virus that is redirecting me. That URL is:
http://hipservice.passport.net/forcehip.srf?id=2&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ehotmail%2emsn%2ecom%2fcgi%2dbin%2fsbox&tk=5AAAAAAAAHaH5SlHCfh%21vCYuZRLHqLeSMISOD27ewz5qkus5hJBdv8%2a1WHq%2ar9afyJ6tXjAueHs4c%24&lc=1033

Bigbruva
Sat Feb 05 23:31:48 CST 2005

Okay first things first, this is NOT a virus

This is from Hotmail, it is a techniques they use to stop spammers creating
hundreds of account in one go via some automated process.
I must admit I have not seen this used routinely for hotmail logins. I
tested my hotmail login via www.hotmail.com just now and I was not presented
with this check.

Is your account new?

Anyway you are right to question this change but as long as it does not ask
for personal details like your SS number or bank account details you should
be okay.
If you continue to be sent via this check you might try contacting the
Hotmail tech support and ask why you are having to do this

HTH

BB


"Tim" <Tim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:CFF6CDC3-BA78-4C67-BD2B-56884AB6FB23@microsoft.com...
> Operating System: windows XP
> Connection Type: cable modem
> Browser Type: ie 6+
>
> Recently, when attempting to log onto hotmail via www.hotmail.com, I am
> now
> being asked to "Match the pictures". After entering my password, I am
> then
> redirected to another URL which prompts me to "Match a picutre" to enter.
> Is
> this new to hotmail or a spoof? When I enter the characters, I do get
> into
> hotmail, but this has never been there before. I am worried that it is a
> virus that is redirecting me. That URL is:
> http://hipservice.passport.net/forcehip.srf?id=2&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ehotmail%2emsn%2ecom%2fcgi%2dbin%2fsbox&tk=5AAAAAAAAHaH5SlHCfh%21vCYuZRLHqLeSMISOD27ewz5qkus5hJBdv8%2a1WHq%2ar9afyJ6tXjAueHs4c%24&lc=1033

Galen
Sun Feb 06 03:38:36 CST 2005

In news:es7Qq0ADFHA.1260@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl,
Bigbruva <Richardh@dontusethis.ws> had this to say:

Just as an addition to the above... It's not a spoof or the like. It seems
that Hotmail's going a bit bonkers lately. Every second email that I send
out from one of my accounts (and only that one) requires that I log back
into my account via the web and perform the same thing. Basically I enter
the data found in the photographs and I'm all set and my usage of Outlook
Express happily returns to normal. This is an account that I've had for eons
and this is the only account effected. I think that you'll find that it
simply 'can't happen' in the newer free Hotmail accounts as they're not
compatable with Outlook Express. It's some sort of spam prevention tool gone
very wrong from the looks of things. I'm assuming that it will be fixed
eventually. A good idea might be to hit the help button when you're next
asked to log in (after you've logged in) and email support for more
information. It's enough to drive you bonkers as the account that I'm
getting this response in is the account I use for is rather active though
not much more than one of my other accounts which doesn't get the message.
I'd go with the help/complaint option.

Cheers,

Galen
--

"My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me
the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am
in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial
stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for
mental exaltation." -- Sherlock Holmes

Gunilla
Sun Feb 06 06:19:11 CST 2005

I am experiencing the same thing but I have OE as my mail reader and
suddenly the hotmail folders are gone and an e-mail from
hotmail staff is in the hotmail inbox, as that one is the only left in OE,
saying I need contact them. I have checked the source from the e-mail and it
seems to be a valid one. Anyhow, when I go to the web-interface of Hotmail I
am presented with the same "Match the pictures" window after typing my
username and password and after that I get my folders back in OE.

The annoying thing though is that it happens more than one time each week
but I understand why they need to have this kind of security measurements.
But agree that one can be very suspicious these days.

Gunilla

"Bigbruva" <Richardh@dontusethis.ws> skrev i meddelandet
news:es7Qq0ADFHA.1260@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Okay first things first, this is NOT a virus
>
> This is from Hotmail, it is a techniques they use to stop spammers
> creating hundreds of account in one go via some automated process.
> I must admit I have not seen this used routinely for hotmail logins. I
> tested my hotmail login via www.hotmail.com just now and I was not
> presented with this check.
>
> Is your account new?
>
> Anyway you are right to question this change but as long as it does not
> ask for personal details like your SS number or bank account details you
> should be okay.
> If you continue to be sent via this check you might try contacting the
> Hotmail tech support and ask why you are having to do this
>
> HTH
>
> BB
>
>
> "Tim" <Tim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:CFF6CDC3-BA78-4C67-BD2B-56884AB6FB23@microsoft.com...
>> Operating System: windows XP
>> Connection Type: cable modem
>> Browser Type: ie 6+
>>
>> Recently, when attempting to log onto hotmail via www.hotmail.com, I am
>> now
>> being asked to "Match the pictures". After entering my password, I am
>> then
>> redirected to another URL which prompts me to "Match a picutre" to enter.
>> Is
>> this new to hotmail or a spoof? When I enter the characters, I do get
>> into
>> hotmail, but this has never been there before. I am worried that it is a
>> virus that is redirecting me. That URL is:
>> http://hipservice.passport.net/forcehip.srf?id=2&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ehotmail%2emsn%2ecom%2fcgi%2dbin%2fsbox&tk=5AAAAAAAAHaH5SlHCfh%21vCYuZRLHqLeSMISOD27ewz5qkus5hJBdv8%2a1WHq%2ar9afyJ6tXjAueHs4c%24&lc=1033
>
>

William
Sun Feb 06 08:42:40 CST 2005

Based on a vid I saw, seems that they have turned on a bunch of spam stuff
recently that was too "expensive" to run before. Seems they need to shake
out a few issues. Send an email to the support to detail your issues.

--
William Stacey, MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

"Gunilla" <removekakaomumsathotmaildotcom> wrote in message
news:uDlw5YEDFHA.3908@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> I am experiencing the same thing but I have OE as my mail reader and
> suddenly the hotmail folders are gone and an e-mail from
> hotmail staff is in the hotmail inbox, as that one is the only left in OE,
> saying I need contact them. I have checked the source from the e-mail and
it
> seems to be a valid one. Anyhow, when I go to the web-interface of Hotmail
I
> am presented with the same "Match the pictures" window after typing my
> username and password and after that I get my folders back in OE.
>
> The annoying thing though is that it happens more than one time each week
> but I understand why they need to have this kind of security measurements.
> But agree that one can be very suspicious these days.
>
> Gunilla
>
> "Bigbruva" <Richardh@dontusethis.ws> skrev i meddelandet
> news:es7Qq0ADFHA.1260@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > Okay first things first, this is NOT a virus
> >
> > This is from Hotmail, it is a techniques they use to stop spammers
> > creating hundreds of account in one go via some automated process.
> > I must admit I have not seen this used routinely for hotmail logins. I
> > tested my hotmail login via www.hotmail.com just now and I was not
> > presented with this check.
> >
> > Is your account new?
> >
> > Anyway you are right to question this change but as long as it does not
> > ask for personal details like your SS number or bank account details you
> > should be okay.
> > If you continue to be sent via this check you might try contacting the
> > Hotmail tech support and ask why you are having to do this
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > BB
> >
> >
> > "Tim" <Tim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:CFF6CDC3-BA78-4C67-BD2B-56884AB6FB23@microsoft.com...
> >> Operating System: windows XP
> >> Connection Type: cable modem
> >> Browser Type: ie 6+
> >>
> >> Recently, when attempting to log onto hotmail via www.hotmail.com, I am
> >> now
> >> being asked to "Match the pictures". After entering my password, I am
> >> then
> >> redirected to another URL which prompts me to "Match a picutre" to
enter.
> >> Is
> >> this new to hotmail or a spoof? When I enter the characters, I do get
> >> into
> >> hotmail, but this has never been there before. I am worried that it is
a
> >> virus that is redirecting me. That URL is:
> >>
http://hipservice.passport.net/forcehip.srf?id=2&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ehotmail%2emsn%2ecom%2fcgi%2dbin%2fsbox&tk=5AAAAAAAAHaH5SlHCfh%21vCYuZRLHqLeSMISOD27ewz5qkus5hJBdv8%2a1WHq%2ar9afyJ6tXjAueHs4c%24&lc=1033
> >
> >
>

mwaterer
Tue Feb 08 16:08:59 CST 2005


Tim wrote:
> Operating System: windows XP
> Connection Type: cable modem
> Browser Type: ie 6+
>
> Recently, when attempting to log onto hotmail via www.hotmail.com, I
am now
> being asked to "Match the pictures". After entering my password, I
am then
> redirected to another URL which prompts me to "Match a picutre" to
enter. Is
> this new to hotmail or a spoof? When I enter the characters, I do
get into
> hotmail, but this has never been there before. I am worried that it
is a
> virus that is redirecting me. That URL is:
>
http://hipservice.passport.net/forcehip.srf?id=2&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ehotmail%2emsn%2ecom%2fcgi%2dbin%2fsbox&tk=5AAAAAAAAHaH5SlHCfh%21vCYuZRLHqLeSMISOD27ewz5qkus5hJBdv8%2a1WHq%2ar9afyJ6tXjAueHs4c%24&lc=1033

Penny278
Sun Feb 13 21:41:07 CST 2005

I have been getting this same behaviour and believe it is a hoax. I do not
have a new account (unless new=2+ years old). I've got Outlook set up to
check my hotmail account and got a message there that said I should contact
hotmail.com. I clicked on it and then got the "Match picture" window.
Without noticing the URL, I entered the letters and did get to my account,
but the message that Outlook said I had was not in my Inbox.

Today, I got a similar message in Outlook, with the same "Match picture"
window. I didn't enter the letters - I tried to login from Firefox and IE6,
but both redirected me to the "hipservice" URL. The suspicious thing (I
think) is that the Hotmail image does not show up on the top of the window
(only a red X). I changed my password when I got in last week, and now I've
changed it again without logging in (using a link from the Microsoft TechNet
site).

Until more definitive answers come out, I'm treating this account as dead.



"Bigbruva" wrote:

> Okay first things first, this is NOT a virus
>
> This is from Hotmail, it is a techniques they use to stop spammers creating
> hundreds of account in one go via some automated process.
> I must admit I have not seen this used routinely for hotmail logins. I
> tested my hotmail login via www.hotmail.com just now and I was not presented
> with this check.
>
> Is your account new?
>
> Anyway you are right to question this change but as long as it does not ask
> for personal details like your SS number or bank account details you should
> be okay.
> If you continue to be sent via this check you might try contacting the
> Hotmail tech support and ask why you are having to do this
>
> HTH
>
> BB
>
>
> "Tim" <Tim@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:CFF6CDC3-BA78-4C67-BD2B-56884AB6FB23@microsoft.com...
> > Operating System: windows XP
> > Connection Type: cable modem
> > Browser Type: ie 6+
> >
> > Recently, when attempting to log onto hotmail via www.hotmail.com, I am
> > now
> > being asked to "Match the pictures". After entering my password, I am
> > then
> > redirected to another URL which prompts me to "Match a picutre" to enter.
> > Is
> > this new to hotmail or a spoof? When I enter the characters, I do get
> > into
> > hotmail, but this has never been there before. I am worried that it is a
> > virus that is redirecting me. That URL is:
> > http://hipservice.passport.net/forcehip.srf?id=2&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ehotmail%2emsn%2ecom%2fcgi%2dbin%2fsbox&tk=5AAAAAAAAHaH5SlHCfh%21vCYuZRLHqLeSMISOD27ewz5qkus5hJBdv8%2a1WHq%2ar9afyJ6tXjAueHs4c%24&lc=1033
>
>
>