Industry News Home More stories like this... RSS Feed

Microsoft warns of hackers' rogue impersonations

Cyber crooks are taking advantage of Microsoft's monthly update release to expose unsuspecting users to online threats, the computer giant has warned.

The crooks have issued malicious malware laden emails posing as Microsoft online security notifications, which are routinely issued on the second Tuesday of every month.

In a blog article warning users of the happenings, Christopher Budd of Microsoft states: "While malicious e-mails posing as Microsoft security notifications with attached malware aren't new, this particular one is a bit different."

This is because the rogue email claims to have originated from "our own Steve Lipner and has what appears to be a PGP signature block attached to it".

"We never, ever, ever send attachments with our security notification e-mails. And, as a matter of company policy, Microsoft will never send you an executable attachment."

He went on to say that the company's security notifications are always in plain text and users should delete any message appearing differently.

The routine, monthly, second Tuesday release of updates is now widely referred to as Patch Tuesday.

PC Tools Internet Security is a complete security solution which protects PCs and laptops from online threats like hackers, spam, rootkits, Trojans, viruses and spyware. Visit www.pctools.com to upgrade your protection