Re: Can I trust it ???
- From: Bruce Chambers <bchambers@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 12:02:58 -0600
BoazBoaz wrote:
I get lots of mail such these http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5733/micro4bb.gif can I trust it ???
Note: See the attachment warning !!!
No, it's most definitely not to be trusted.
What you're receiving is most likely 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 past few years. Some of the most widely-known are:
W32.Swen.A_mm
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.swen.a@xxxxxxx
W32.Dumaru_mm
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.dumaru@xxxxxxx
W32.Gibe_mm
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.gibe@xxxxxxx
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/, and no where else. 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
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
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