Beware Fake Microsoft Patch Received in Email   - 1,024 Views, 1 Comment

Summary: If you get an email, supposedly from Microsoft, which says "Security Update for OS Microsoft Windows", ignore it, delete it, and whatever you do, don't install the "patch" which comes with it, which is, of course, really a trojan program just waiting to wreak havoc on your computer.

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If you get an email, supposedly from Microsoft, which says “Security Update for OS Microsoft Windows”, ignore it, delete it, and whatever you do, don’t install the “patch” which comes with it, which is, of course, really a trojan program just waiting to wreak havoc on your computer.

Most versions of this spam read approximately as follows:

“Please notice that Microsoft company has recently issued a Security Update for OS Microsoft Windows. The update applies to the following OS versions: Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Millenium, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista.

Please notice, that present update applies to high-priority updates category. In order to help protect your computer against security threats and performance problems, we strongly recommend you to install this update.”

The spam is ’signed’ by Steve Lipner, which is the real name of a real person at Microsoft that the spammer is using to lend credibility to the spam (even though the poor use of the English language should be a tip-off).

In reality, Microsoft never sends out updates by email; to update your Microsoft computer system, you need to go to the Microsoft update center.

Beware Fake Microsoft Patch Received in Email

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For additional similar stories check out our archives on Microsoft, Security, Windows

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1 Comment »

  1. Not only all that, but surely Windows98 is no longer supported.

    Comment by Maurice — 10/17/2008 @ 9:43 am

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 This article first appeared on 10/17/2008
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