Internet Explorer Patch

[Jeff]

Several times in the past week or so I've been sent an e-
mail supposedly from Microsoft, with an attachment that
says "Dear friend, use this Internet Explorer patch now!
There are dangerous virus on the Internet now! More than
500.000 already infected!" (That's the entire e-mail,
word-for-word). The attachment is called patch.exe. The
reply address on the e-mail is (e-mail address removed). I
have simply been deleting these e-mails assuming they are
a hoax. Can you tell me if it truly is a hoax, or is
this a genuine patch to install from Microsoft? Thanks.

Jeff (e-mail address removed)

 

[Taurarian]

MS do not send out patches as email attachments. Continue to delete them.
They are viruses.

 

[Ron Chamberlin]

Jeff,
Microsoft has a policy which states that they do NOT ever send patches
unsolicited.

That said, more info here:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/policy/swdist.asp