Is this real?

[Paul Markham2]

Just got an email from a friend saying this.

MICROSOFT is spamming the Web with a WORM embedded in the email.

Beware of a “Security Update” from Microsoft. I did get the email from Microsoft, anyone here know anything about it?

[Wazza]

Taa daa

http://www.atnewyork.com/news/article.php/3080001

[adamneve]

i got that too |angry|

[Cleo]

None of this stuff affects the OS that I run. :D



|couch|

[Ramster]

Clearly Microsoft is not sending these out. It's the virus doing it all. Just like I'm getting them from all kinds of people I know but I know better.

And I use Netscape for email. |jackinthe

[RawAlex]

Paul, apply this logic to this type of mail:

1 - does Microsoft know SPECIFICALLY who I am, and my SPECIFIC email address?

2 - why would they not just point me to their update site, rather than wasting bandwidth and time mailing me something?

3 - why is this mail from "microsoft security" but the headers show some chinese or korean address?

There is no reason for microsoft to mail you, I doubt they know you, they don't have your address, and they aren't going to mail an attachment.

My rule #1: anything with an attachment is toast.

Alex

[MrMaryLou]

Here is my simple rule unless you tell me your sending something
I have one rule dont open attachments :)

[DangerDave]

Originally posted by MrMaryLou
Here is my simple rule unless you tell me your sending something
I have one rule dont open attachments :) Ditto! unless you tell me an attachment is coming.. its is deleted off the server - I never see it..

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.swen.a@mm.html

DD

[JenC]

Originally posted by RawAlex
Paul, apply this logic to this type of mail:

1 - does Microsoft know SPECIFICALLY who I am, and my SPECIFIC email address?

2 - why would they not just point me to their update site, rather than wasting bandwidth and time mailing me something?

3 - why is this mail from "microsoft security" but the headers show some chinese or korean address?

There is no reason for microsoft to mail you, I doubt they know you, they don't have your address, and they aren't going to mail an attachment.

My rule #1: anything with an attachment is toast.

Alex


Theoretically, they could have your name and email address if you registered your copy of Windows with any new computer you've bought. I just bought a new laptop and with the copy of Windows XP I had no choice but to register, it wouldn't let me back out of the registration.

But back to the logic of things. I doubt Microsoft would send out a billion emails (literally) to all the people who use their product. They'd be more likely to have you come get the update.

[JenC]

Originally posted by Cleo
None of this stuff affects the OS that I run. :D



|couch|

That's cuz when you're on top, everyone wants to shoot you down. |jester|

[stuveltje]

in outlook 6 there is an option to block attachment to open them, i use that, so never the mistake of opening an attachment again!
But i have to say my mom did get an email wich she thought came from microsoft, wich said there was an opdate but it was a link , she clickked and yes it was a virus!|sad|

[JanTM]

My host chokes all .exe attachment on the mail server... I never see them :)

Other than that a general rule to just delete attachments is the best protection I think.

[JohnH]

Hi All...new here |shake|


i had a friend that got that email too, but Norton caught it when they opened it