Is this really microsoft?

[WDJ]

I received this e-mail with an attachment that my virus
software flagged as infected!

Is this really microsoft or an imposter? See below:

Microsoft Customer

this is the latest version of security update, the
"August 2003, Cumulative Patch" update which eliminates
all known security vulnerabilities affecting Internet
Explorer,
Outlook and Outlook Express as well as five newly
discovered vulnerabilities. Install now to protect your
computer
from these vulnerabilities, the most serious of which
could allow
an attacker to run executable on your system. This update
includes
the functionality of all previously released patches.

System requirements Win 9x/Me/2000/NT/XP
This update applies to Microsoft Internet Explorer,
version 4.01 and later
Microsoft Outlook, version 8.00 and later
Microsoft Outlook Express, version 4.01 and later
Recommendation Customers should install the patch at the
earliest opportunity.
How to install Run attached file. Click Yes on displayed
dialog box.
How to use You don't need to do anything after installing
this item.

Microsoft Product Support Services and Knowledge Base
articles
can be found on the Microsoft Technical Support web site.
For security-related information about Microsoft
products, please
visit the Microsoft Security Advisor web site, or Contact
us.

Please do not reply to this message. It was sent from an
unmonitored
e-mail address and we are unable to respond to any
replies.

Thank you for using Microsoft products.

With friendly greetings,
Microsoft Corporation Internet Security Division

----------------------------------------------------------

 

[Nicholas]

WDJ --

You did not receive an email message from Microsoft. What you
received was an email HOAX from a devious imposter!

Microsoft "NEVER SENDS ATTACHMENTS" with email! They always provide
a link to their website. What you received is a pure HOAX!

You should DELETE the message immediately because the attachment
is very likely to contain a VIRUS!

Microsoft never distributes software directly via e-mail:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/?url=/technet/security/policy/swdist.asp


--
Nicholas

--------------------------------------------------------------------


| I received this e-mail with an attachment that my virus
| software flagged as infected!
|
| Is this really microsoft or an imposter? See below:
|
| Microsoft Customer
|
| this is the latest version of security update, the
| "August 2003, Cumulative Patch" update which eliminates
| all known security vulnerabilities affecting Internet
| Explorer,
| Outlook and Outlook Express as well as five newly
| discovered vulnerabilities. Install now to protect your
| computer
| from these vulnerabilities, the most serious of which
| could allow
| an attacker to run executable on your system. This update
| includes
| the functionality of all previously released patches.
|
| System requirements Win 9x/Me/2000/NT/XP
| This update applies to Microsoft Internet Explorer,
| version 4.01 and later
| Microsoft Outlook, version 8.00 and later
| Microsoft Outlook Express, version 4.01 and later
| Recommendation Customers should install the patch at the
| earliest opportunity.
| How to install Run attached file. Click Yes on displayed
| dialog box.
| How to use You don't need to do anything after installing
| this item.
|
| Microsoft Product Support Services and Knowledge Base
| articles
| can be found on the Microsoft Technical Support web site.
| For security-related information about Microsoft
| products, please
| visit the Microsoft Security Advisor web site, or Contact
| us.
|
| Please do not reply to this message. It was sent from an
| unmonitored
| e-mail address and we are unable to respond to any
| replies.
|
| Thank you for using Microsoft products.
|
| With friendly greetings,
| Microsoft Corporation Internet Security Division
|
| ----------------------------------------------------------
| ----------------------
| )2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. The
| names of the actual companies
| and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of
| their respective owners.

 

[Mike Mulligan]

What you received is an email IQ test. By posting your question here,
instead of blindly opening the attachment, you have proven yourself a person
of intelligence!

Mike Mulligan

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Any and all legitimate patches and updates are readily available
at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/. (Notice that this is the true
URL, rather than the bogus one contained in the email you received.)
Any messages that point to any other source(s) or claim to have the
patch attached are bogus.

What you probably received is either a malicious hoax or the
output of a computer infected by one of several relatively new, but
wide-spread, mass emailing worms.

Microsoft never has, does not currently, and never will email
unsolicited security patches. At the most, if, and only if, you
subscribe to their security notification newsletter, they will send
you an email informing you that a new patch is available for
downloading.

Microsoft Policies on Software Distribution
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/?url=/technet/security/policy/swdist.asp

Information on Bogus Microsoft Security Bulletin Emails
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/news/patch_hoax.asp


Bruce Chambers

--
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