I recently had a huge problem with my computer with this same type of thing - I kept getting messages (not email, but right on my desktop in a pop up balloon) saying that Windows update was necessary because a virus was infecting my computer. It looked all legit like it was a real message from my anti-virus program but when I open the balloon that appeared on my desktop, it took me to a website that wanted me to buy anti-virus software. And then it started randomly opening my internet explorer and going to porn websites and viagra sites. Ack!! This was my work computer!!!! We had a good laugh but I had to run a malware removal program two times (quick scan followed by full scan) to remove it and then the next day my computer went crazy when I reopened it - having lost tons of programs like Word and Outlook but not the stuff in My Documents. Have had to
have my computer totally reconfigured and won't get it back until next week.
Not sure where I got it from....but beware of anything not looking right.
Lysane --- On Fri, 10/23/09, Diane Trefethen <Tref@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Diane Trefethen <Tref@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [RC] Malware beware To: "Ridecamp" <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Received: Friday, October 23, 2009, 3:04 PM
In light of the recent malware episode where roxvet@xxxxxxx was spoofed, this post might not be so very OT.
Yesterday I received a notice ostensibly from Microsoft. It looked EXACTLY like the real Microsoft Knowledge Base pages. It purported to be an "Update for Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express (KB910721)". NOTE: I have since learned that there are several such emails floating around that reference other Microsoft products such as Explorer and Windows XP. Some of the references they include are to: KB910721 KB199250 KB246586 KB294576 KB519287 KB535548 KB572906 KB585658 KB631829 KB763412 KB871565
The only thing fishy was that I KNOW Microsoft does not send notification of software updates to individuals. They are not THAT paternalistic. So I
used an old trick. With the message in my preview pane, I clicked Ctrl-U. This command opens the email in its source. The first thing you see when you do this is the email's header. Read the header to see if the email passed through ANY "unbelievable" users Checked the "Return-Path:" line - BINGO! The return path was <crunchingmyy98@xxxxxxxxxxx> Talk about STUPID, like Microsoft is going to use someone named crunchingmyy98 to distribute important update info! If the return path hadn't looked suspicious, next Check all the "Received: from" lines 1) adsl.inetia.pl .pl = Poland Bingo #2.
No big company uses "garbage"
distributors. They do it themselves or farm the job out to a reputable (read well-known) firm.
Next I went to http://support.microsoft.com/ and did a search on "KB910721". One result was: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/959318/ which is an article entitled, "You receive a fraudulent e-mail message that claims that an attached executable is a Microsoft security update". The article describes this fraud and includes this ETERNALLY CORRECT ADVICE:
"If you receive an e-mail message that claims to distribute a Microsoft security update, it is a hoax that may contain malware or pointers to malicious Web sites. We recommend that you delete the message. Do not open the attachment."
So be aware and do NOT fall for ANY UNSOLICITED email updates, help, even a link to
your grandmother's famous apple pie. ALWAYS check out unsolicited emails BEFORE opening them or, heaven forfend, click on any links they contain.
