MS email "Security Update" ??

[Guest]

I received the email shown below with the MS logo, header and links to MS.
The email said to download and install the file: Q267437.exe as the latest
MS cumulative Jan-05 patch.
It was sent by: "MS Customer Services" <[email protected]>
It was sent to: "Microsoft Corporation User" <[email protected]>
(not me)

Is this email really from MS? I've never seen MS distribute Windows
security update by email.

Please let me know!
Thanks,
Earl

Here is the email.

Microsoft User

this is the latest version of security update, the "January 2005, Cumulative
Patch" update which resolves all known security vulnerabilities affecting MS
Internet Explorer, MS Outlook and MS Outlook Express. Install now to maintain
the security of your computer from these vulnerabilities, the most serious of
which could allow an attacker to run code on your system. This update
includes the functionality of all previously released patches.


System requirements Windows 95/98/Me/2000/NT/XP
This update applies to MS Internet Explorer, version 4.01 and later
MS Outlook, version 8.00 and later
MS Outlook Express, version 4.01 and later
Recommendation Customers should install the patch at the earliest
opportunity.
How to install Run attached file. Choose 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.

Thank you for using Microsoft products.

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.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

You received a bogus email message! Microsoft never
distributes security updates via email attachments!

How to Tell If a Microsoft Security-Related Message Is Genuine
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/authenticate_mail.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User


Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

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

:

| I received the email shown below with the MS logo, header and links to MS.
| The email said to download and install the file: Q267437.exe as the latest
| MS cumulative Jan-05 patch.
| It was sent by: "MS Customer Services" <[email protected]>
| It was sent to: "Microsoft Corporation User" <[email protected]>
| (not me)
|
| Is this email really from MS? I've never seen MS distribute Windows
| security update by email.
|
| Please let me know!
| Thanks,
| Earl
|
| Here is the email.
|
| Microsoft User
|
| this is the latest version of security update, the "January 2005, Cumulative
| Patch" update which resolves all known security vulnerabilities affecting MS
| Internet Explorer, MS Outlook and MS Outlook Express. Install now to maintain
| the security of your computer from these vulnerabilities, the most serious of
| which could allow an attacker to run code on your system. This update
| includes the functionality of all previously released patches.
|
|
| System requirements Windows 95/98/Me/2000/NT/XP
| This update applies to MS Internet Explorer, version 4.01 and later
| MS Outlook, version 8.00 and later
| MS Outlook Express, version 4.01 and later
| Recommendation Customers should install the patch at the earliest
| opportunity.
| How to install Run attached file. Choose 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.
|
| Thank you for using Microsoft products.
|
| 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.

 

[branac]

Microsoft doesn't distribute security patches this way. Do not touch
attachments and remove e-mail from your computer. All MS patches and
updates are on their website which you can get by clicking on Programs

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I received the email shown below with the MS logo, header and links to MS.
The email said to download and install the file: Q267437.exe as the latest
MS cumulative Jan-05 patch.
It was sent by: "MS Customer Services" <[email protected]>
It was sent to: "Microsoft Corporation User" <[email protected]>
(not me)

Is this email really from MS? I've never seen MS distribute Windows
security update by email.

What you're apparently receiving is the output of a computer
infected by one of several widely publicized, wide-spread, mass emailing
worms. The virus' authors have deliberately spoofed the Microsoft
information in the hopes of garnering more victims. This sort of email
has been very common for the 18 months or more. The most widely-known are:

W32.Swen.A_mm
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]

W32.Dumaru_mm
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]

W32.Gibe_mm
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]

Trojan.Xombe
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.xombe.html

Microsoft never has, does not currently, and very probably 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

How to Tell If a Microsoft Security-Related Message Is Genuine
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/authenticate_mail.asp

Remember, any and all legitimate patches and updates are readily
available at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/. You should develop
the habit of checking this site at least once a month to keep your
computer up-to-date. (Notice that this is the true URL, rather than the
bogus one that may have been contained in the email you received.) Any
messages that point to any other source(s) or claim to have the patch
attached are bogus.

You're receiving these emails because your email address is in
the address book of someone infected with a worm, and/or because you
posted your real email address somewhere on-line, either in a forum
accessible to the public and spambots, such as Usenet, or on an
untrustworthy web site that subsequently sold your address as part of a
mailing list. One thing you can do is notify _everyone_ with whom
you've ever corresponded via email that one or more of them may be
infected with a mass emailing worm, and should take the appropriate
steps. You can also ask your ISP to take steps to preclude their mail
server from passing on such emails. Many ISPs have such filtering
capabilities.

--

Bruce Chambers

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