Security Patches - are they real or viruses?

[Paul C.]

I got two emails from (e-mail address removed) saying that

"Dear friend , use this Internet Explorer patch now!
There are dangerous virus in the Internet now!
More than 500.000 already infected!" and asked me to
download a file named patch.exe.

Are these files actually from Microsoft or someone is
just trying to make me download some viruses or snooping
programs on my computer?

How do we know the difference in the legitimate programs
from Microsoft vs. the rest?

I suspect that it is not a legitimate program as I never
before got any such program from Microsoft before. In
that case where do I forward the emails to in Microsoft
organization, hoping that Microsoft will do and want to
do something about these programs who are doing bad
things to people in the name of Microsoft.

TIA.

Paul.

 

[Roady]

Microsoft will NEVER send patches by mail.
Here are instructions on how to see whether the message is truly from
Microsoft;
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/authenticate_mail.asp

--
Roady
www.sparnaaij.net
Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office related News
Also Outlook FAQ, How To's, Downloads and more...

Tip of the month:
-Tips for cleaning up your mailbox

Subscribe to the newsletter to receive news and tips & tricks in your
mailbox!
www.sparnaaij.net

(I changed my reply address; remove all CAPS and _underscores_ from the
address when mailing)

 

[Rob Schneider]

These attempts to dupe people to install virus-laden software has been
going on for months and are well known. Nothing to do with Microfoft.
Delete and forget about it.

Read more, if you want, at www.microsoft.com/security.


Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms