IE security update - information requested
I recently received an attachment from Microsoft which claimed it contained patches for the various security issues that existed. I know nothing of the issues but like a good boy I pressed the button and it went off and did something - who knows what - I don't really care - anyhow it got to the end and a dialogue box asked me for two pieces of information and I have not a clue where to get the information let alone provide it. The questions were:
What is your outgoing SMTP server?
What is your incoming POP3 server?
I haven't quoted precisely but I think that was the gist of it.
Can someone please tell me where I can find the answers to these questions.
Sure there are two questions but there was only one dialogue box!
What is your outgoing SMTP server?
What is your incoming POP3 server?
I haven't quoted precisely but I think that was the gist of it.
Can someone please tell me where I can find the answers to these questions.
Sure there are two questions but there was only one dialogue box!
Whenever you see something in email claiming to be "official" communications from Microsoft or any other company, be sure to verify it against a virus database. A good one is at http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/vinfodb.html
Another good one is at http://www3.ca.com/virusinfo/ - select the "search" link under "virus encyclopedia."
More often than not, an unsolicited email claiming to be from a company as big as Microsoft, Symantec, etc. is a bogus email. It is either a virus or a virus hoax.
The only exceptions to that rule of thumb would be if you are a subscriber to specific alerts from specific software vendors, and even then, it's good practice to be suspicious.
If an email is asking for specific information returned from you, like the one you quoted, it is more likely to be from a hacker or a spammer, wanting to steal your company's identity.
NEVER EVER EVER blindly obey one of these emails EVER EVER AGAIN!!!
Another good one is at http://www3.ca.com/virusinfo/ - select the "search" link under "virus encyclopedia."
More often than not, an unsolicited email claiming to be from a company as big as Microsoft, Symantec, etc. is a bogus email. It is either a virus or a virus hoax.
The only exceptions to that rule of thumb would be if you are a subscriber to specific alerts from specific software vendors, and even then, it's good practice to be suspicious.
If an email is asking for specific information returned from you, like the one you quoted, it is more likely to be from a hacker or a spammer, wanting to steal your company's identity.
NEVER EVER EVER blindly obey one of these emails EVER EVER AGAIN!!!
By the way, whatever you went off and did like a good boy, you SHOULD care. You could have planted a backdoor trojan on your PC through whatever web links the email sent you to...
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Also, in addition to being suspicious of "official-looking" emails, also be very suspicious of emails appearing to come from a friend or associate saying they heard about some such or other new nasty virus on CNN or whatever, where Microsoft has said there is no protection from, and you should go delete some file or other off your PC because it's a virus that Symantec and McAfee claim they can't detect. That is a bogus email, one of the most common "hoax" viruses, and you should not only delete it and ignore what it says, you also should not follow its instructions to forward it on to everyone in your address book. That is one of the "payloads" of this type of hoax - you create a bunch of wasteful email, that is supposed to self-propagate and grow exponentially as it passes from user to user.
Always be suspicious of anything you get in email, even if from a friend, that says you should send out emails to other ppl you know.
Check those links I posted, first. Search for "hoax" and add nifty tidbits like whatever file it says you should delete, or something else like that.
Always be suspicious of anything you get in email, even if from a friend, that says you should send out emails to other ppl you know.
Check those links I posted, first. Search for "hoax" and add nifty tidbits like whatever file it says you should delete, or something else like that.
ASKER
ShineOn - Thank you for that. I tried Housecall and it found a worm. Since then I have renewed my subscription to Norton virus scanner (dunno whether it's the best as there are so many counter claims).
I was extremely suspicious but it was a beautifully presented email and looked really professional. Maybe it was even real and had nothing to do with the worm. I now don't know as I've deleted both of them.
I wonder whether anyone else has received these emails?
I was extremely suspicious but it was a beautifully presented email and looked really professional. Maybe it was even real and had nothing to do with the worm. I now don't know as I've deleted both of them.
I wonder whether anyone else has received these emails?
ASKER
By the way what was the answer to:
What is your outgoing SMTP server?
What is your incoming POP3 server?
What is your outgoing SMTP server?
What is your incoming POP3 server?
Is this a home PC? If so, then that would be the IP addresses or URLs you were given by your ISP to plug into Outlook Express or Netscape Mail so you can send (SMTP) and receive (POP3) mail from the server. Don't give them out. That info, along with whatever else the worm wanted to do, could be part of identity theft - if they have that, and your ID and password, then they can pretend they are you.
ASKER
It's a home PC. I never entered any IP addresses to plug into Outlook Express nor Netscape Mail as I don't use either. Anyhow fortunately as I didn't know what they wanted they did get it ! Guess luck was on my side - ignorance certainly helped me this time. Thanks all the same.
Sunray