"MS" Security Messages

[Bill Belcher]

For about a week now I have received e-mail (approx 150KB
each time at least twice a day) from any of the following
senders:
MS Security Assistance <nxkjbggnhp@advisor>
MS Corporation Security Center <msoycnwqr-
(e-mail address removed)>
MS Technical Assistance <[email protected]>
MS Delivery Service <[email protected]>

In the process of downloading to my Earthlink Mail
Account, my Norton Anti-virus kicks in with a message
that these e-mail contain a virus then deletes the virus.

When I go to open these e-mails, sure enough,
the "attachment" that is supposed to accompany the e-mail
has been deleted.

Is this a valid Microsoft message about a Security Patch
or is it a phoney?

I have tried to download from Microsoft any of the
Security upgrades that might be missing from my computer,
running XP, but it seems that I have everything loaded
that is critical plus a few other items that I know I
need.

Is this whole thing a scam, using Microsoft's name?

I Block these things everytime they come across but I
still get these e-mails from "MS...." but can't responde
to them or apply them.

What's going on?

Thanks for the help!

 

[randwulf57]

Bill Belcher:
Norton's antivirus is doing its job. MS does not send security updates,
patches, fixes, etc. via email. These are bogus emails; the attachments are
viruses. Delete them.
randwulf57

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Its a virus. Microsoft will never send updates or patches via e-mail.