suspicious email from "Microsoft"

J

John Garate

I keep getting email (once or twice a week) alerting me to new Microsoft
updates. The subject is "late Internet Security Update". The email contains
an attachment.
Since I get the Microsoft downloads automatically I am suspicious of the
email with the attachment. I never open it. I just delete it.

The header is very official looking and looks like a message form Microsoft.
A sample of the email is shown below:

Is this email legit?

____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
SAMPLE EMAIL MESSAGE


Microsoft All Products | Support | Search | Microsoft.com
Guide
Microsoft Home




MS User

this is the latest version of security update, the "January 2004,
Cumulative Patch" update which resolves all known security vulnerabilities
affecting MS Internet Explorer, MS Outlook and MS Outlook Express as well as
three new vulnerabilities. Install now to maintain the security of your
computer. 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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The names of the actual companies and products mentioned herein are
the trademarks of their respective owners.



Contact Us | Legal | TRUSTe
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use |
Privacy Statement | Accessibility


____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________
 
R

Ramesh [MVP]

John,

NO. MSFT never distributes software via email.

This should clear the doubts for you.

Virus attachment claims to contain software updates from Microsoft
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/VirusAlert.htm

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
-------------------------------------------
How to guard against CoolWebSearch spyware:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Defend_CWS.htm

How to prevent Blaster Worm attack:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Blaster_Defence.htm
-------------------------------------------


I keep getting email (once or twice a week) alerting me to new Microsoft
updates. The subject is "late Internet Security Update". The email contains
an attachment.
Since I get the Microsoft downloads automatically I am suspicious of the
email with the attachment. I never open it. I just delete it.

The header is very official looking and looks like a message form Microsoft.
A sample of the email is shown below:

Is this email legit?

____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
SAMPLE EMAIL MESSAGE


Microsoft All Products | Support | Search | Microsoft.com
Guide
Microsoft Home




MS User

this is the latest version of security update, the "January 2004,
Cumulative Patch" update which resolves all known security vulnerabilities
affecting MS Internet Explorer, MS Outlook and MS Outlook Express as well as
three new vulnerabilities. Install now to maintain the security of your
computer. 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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The names of the actual companies and products mentioned herein are
the trademarks of their respective owners.



Contact Us | Legal | TRUSTe
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use |
Privacy Statement | Accessibility


____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________
 

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