Today at the Black Hat USA 2010 conference Microsoft announced the extension of the Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP) to include vulnerability information from Adobe Systems. MAPP is a collaborative effort that helps protect people from current and future online threats.

Microsoft is a continuing sponsor of Black Hat, one of the most popular conferences designed for security professionals from all over the world. Microsoft uses this opportunity to build relationships with security researchers to help customers stay ahead of security threats.

To read more about the announcement with Adobe and to get a behind-the-scenes look at the conference, visit our Black Hat Las Vegas 2010 Virtual Press Room.

It's true that a slow computer could be a sign of a virus or other malicious software, but it could be something else.

If your computer is acting funny, take these three steps to help diagnose the problem:

1. Scan your computer for viruses with Windows Live Safety Scanner.

2. Remove viruses with the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal tool.

3. Download antivirus and antispyware software that will update automatically. Microsoft Security Essentials is free and works with Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

If your computer is still slow, you could use the free tools in Windows to free up disk space, speed up access to data, repair disk errors, and more.

To learn how, see 5 ways to speed up your PC.

There's a new version of Microsoft's free webmail service and it's coming your way soon.

The new Windows Live Hotmail offers cool new features like more storage, the ability to edit Microsoft Office documents, and better interaction with your favorite websites. But what we really like are the ways the new Hotmail enhances security.

Here are our top three favorite features:

• SmartScreen. Microsoft's anti-spam technology isn't new. SmartScreen is used for Microsoft's business-strength email services like Exchange and Forefront and to protect against web scams in Internet Explorer. This means that it's got more than enough power to filter out most Hotmail spam. USA Today columnist Edward C. Baig concurs. In a recent article praising the new Hotmail, Baig writes, "Hotmail spam does appear to be drastically reduced." For more information, watch Microsoft's Spam-Fighting Technology in Hotmail.
• Account recovery. We appreciate that Hotmail doesn't give our password out to anyone who asks for it. However, we also appreciate having a way to reclaim our account if it's been compromised. The new Hotmail allows us to use our cell phone number or other identification as proof of account ownership. For example, if you lose your password, or, worse, if your account is compromised, Hotmail will send you an account recapture code via text message to regain access to your account.
• Sweep. Sweep is another way to get rid of spam and other unwanted mail, whether it's a possible security risk to your computer or just plain annoying. Sweep is a virtual broom that lets you "sweep" the mail you don't want out of your inbox into folders or into your trash, leaving your inbox cleaner and safer.

To see more of the new features in action, check out Meet the new Hotmail and Security upgrades in the new Hotmail. To read what the New York Times thinks, see Hotmail's new security features.

Redmond Magazine recently posted an interesting story that explores what information Microsoft collects from customers and how they use it.  Most of what is collected is system information that isn't connected with your name and address or other personal information and is used to improve Microsoft products.

For more information, see What Does Microsoft Know About You?

The National Cyber Security Alliance recently hosted a discussion about the role of the individual in computer security. Representatives from Microsoft and other companies agreed that businesses are responsible for providing security tools in addition to education and they discussed the steps that individuals should take to secure their own computers.

Andrew Cushman, senior director of Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft stressed that people should use updated web browsers when they surf the Internet.

Here are four steps you can take right now to increase your security:

1. Keep your firewall turned on.

2. Keep all your software and your operating system up-to-date.

3. Keep your antivirus software up to date.

4. Keep your antispyware technology up to date.

For more information and detailed instructions, see 4 steps to protect your computer.

Back in March, we mentioned that support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) will end on July 13, 2010.

Today is the day. If your computer is running these operating systems you have two options.

·         Upgrade to Windows 7. For more information, see Windows 7 System Requirements, Get to know Windows 7, or Windows 7: Explore new and improved security features.

·         Install the most current Service Pack: If you are not ready to move to Windows 7, then apply the most current Service Pack to continue to receive updates and support. For Windows Vista support and updates, upgrade to Windows Vista SP2, and for Windows XP support and updates, upgrade to SP3.

To learn more, see Support is ending for some versions of Windows.

 Microsoft releases security updates on the second Tuesday of every month. Today Microsoft released 3 new security updates. 

• 2 updates for Microsoft Windows
• 1 update for Microsoft Office
• 1 update for Microsoft Office Outlook

Get the updates.

Watch a video about the updates. 

The Microsoft Privacy and Online Safety team regularly tweets at twitter.com/safer_online. You'll find all the latest information about Internet safety for kids, Microsoft security and privacy policies, and other recent security news.

Here are some recent updates that we think readers of this blog might be interested in. If you have a Twitter account and you want more frequent updates, follow us.

• Windows Live tells you how to Outsmart social engineering threats with SmartScreen. http://bit.ly/bGvbcR
• NY Times: Should Schools Search Cellphones? http://nyti.ms/b1Jql9
• CNN: With cyberbullying, there's no safe place, study finds. http://bit.ly/crx62s
• Brian Prince from eWeek: Users Must Take Stronger Role in Information Security http://bit.ly/dmQDj1
• Scott Charney, Corporate Vice President of Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft, talks about privacy, security, and cloud computing (using the Internet).http://bit.ly/cGytGR
• Resources for teaching safe social networking habits to your children http://bit.ly/algrmD

You probably already know not to open suspicious looking email attachments and not to send money to foreign princes proffering elaborate sob stories. But the tiny images that you can click on your  favorite websites are safe, right?

Not necessarily.

Cybercriminals can create fake links even on websites that you trust. This recently happened with the Facebook "like" buttons. These are the tiny "thumbs up" icons that let you say that you like a person's status update, picture, or other post. Cybercriminals created fake versions of these "like" icons, and if you clicked on one of these fake buttons, you'd be taken to a page filled with online ads.

Unlike viruses or ID theft, this type of click fraud was used only to create more clicks on advertisements. But this same technique could be used to spread malicious software, so be careful where you click.

For more information on how to prevent online fraud, see How to reduce the risk of online fraud.

To read how Microsoft is combating click fraud, see Microsoft Investigators Uncover Emerging Form of Click Fraud.

We received this question in response to our post about Microsoft's new Internet Fraud Alert.

I am a victim of an online ID theft fraud (my Hotmail account has been hacked). What can I do? What agency can I report this crime to for further investigation?

If you believe that your Hotmail mail account has been compromised, but you still have access to your account, you should:

• Change your password. (On the Windows Live Hotmail Web site sign-in page, clickForgot your password?)
• Update and change the secret question and answer used to recover your password.
• Update and change the alternative email address that you use on your account.

For more information, see Account Compromise: Unauthorized Account Access.

If you no longer have access to your account to change your password or update your account, you can get help from a support agent. You will need to supply a current email address and be able to answer questions about information that you have already provided when you signed up for your account. For more information, see Account Password Recovery.

Note: The agent will only help you if you've already tried the methods described above.

If you think that personal information from your Hotmail account has been used to commit ID theft, you can contact the following authorities:

• Your credit card company, if you have given your credit card information. The sooner an organization knows your account may have been compromised, the easier it will be for them to help protect you.
• The Federal Trade Commission (In the United States). Report the circumstances to the FTC: National Resource for Identity Theft.
• The Anti-Phishing Working Group at spam@uce.gov.