The Microsoft Malware Protection Center reports that there's a new name for an old version of fake security software (also known as rogue security software.)
Security Essentials 2011 pretends to be antivirus software from Microsoft, but instead of protecting you from malicious software it infects your computer with it. Worse, the software claims that in order to protect your computer you need to pay for this software. You are not only paying for a fraudulent service, but also turning over your sensitive personal and financial information to cybercriminals.
Microsoft Security Essentials is free software from Microsoft. We will not ask you to pay for it.
For more information and to see a screenshot of this fake software, see New Year, Same Old Rogues.
The turkey has yet to hit the table, but in many places the shopping season has already begun. Here is our guidance on how to stay safe when you shop online, plus links to more detailed information.
1. Defend your computer with updated firewall, antivirus, and antispyware software and password-protect your wireless connection at home.
2. Create strong passwords for all online accounts, particularly those used for banking or shopping. A strong password is at least eight characters long and includes letters, numbers and symbols.
3. Look for https ("s" stands for secure) in the web address (URL) and a closed padlock beside it or in the lower right corner of your browser.
For more information:
Microsoft recently conducted a survey among parents and educators on the issue of cyberbullying and cyberbullying policies in schools. While most parents are concerned about cyberbullying, our research suggests that parents and schools could take more action on the issue.
Download the Executive Summary or PowerPoint presentation for more information.
Microsoft recognizes the growing issue of cyberbullying and is committed to helping prevent it. Use our free materials to learn about and help educate others.
We received a message from a reader who asked whether or not this email was a scam:
"Microsoft Corporation wish to notify all online customers as we celebrates the 35th year anniversary 2010; and also to inform you that you have emerged one of the beneficiary
Selected in this ongoing 35th Anniversary Program in conjunction with the Foundation of Software Products (F.P.S.) The Microsoft internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organized to encourage the users of the Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide."
This email message continues with a request for personal and financial information. This is a scam. Email messages from Microsoft or other familiar and trustworthy organizations that are full of bad grammar and misspellings are fraudulent. If you receive one of these unsolicited e-mail messages, delete it.
For more signs of a scam, see How to reduce the risk of online fraud.
In honor of our troops and veterans, Microsoft is launching the Elevate America Veterans initiative, which will include donating $2 million in cash and up to $6 million in software and information technology (IT) skills training to six nonprofit organizations. The initiative will help provide veterans and their spouses with education, job training, and placement programs.
To celebrate the launch of the initiative, we're offering a sweepstakes for veterans to win one of twelve Xbox 360 4 GB consoles with the new Kinect sensor. Find out how to enter the sweepstakes.
For more information about the program, see Get Job Skills: Elevate America Veterans.
Microsoft releases security updates on the second Tuesday of every month. Today Microsoft released 3 new security updates.
Get the updates.
Watch a video about the updates.
Microsoft co-sponsors online safety conference in D.C.
The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) will host its annual conference in Washington, D.C., on November 9 and 10. "Internet Freedom, Safety and Citizenship. A Global Call to Action" is the title and focus of this year's conference.
Peter Cullen, Chief Privacy Strategist at Microsoft, will be delivering a keynote address on November 9, discussing Microsoft's citizenship efforts, balancing governance with technology, and freedom of expression.
For more information see:
The Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification Service offers details about security updates approximately three business days before they are released. We do this to allow customers (especially IT professionals) to plan for effective deployment of security updates.
Advanced Notification includes information about:
For more information about the security updates that will be released on November 9, see Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for Novmber 2010.
These days local and national news is littered with stories of bullying, mostly of the online variety. Microsoft takes personal and family safety seriously. This November, we will be co-sponsoring the seventh annual conference of the International Bullying Prevention Association (IBPA) in Seattle from November 15 to November 17.
The event will bring together researchers, advocates, teachers, parents, kids, and law enforcement. It will focus on promoting positive online behavior-addressing the risks of using the web, sharing new research, and discussing preventive actions. There will be a special panel on cyberbullying on November 15.
Jacqueline Beauchere, Director of Privacy and Online Safety in Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing Communications Group, will give the keynote speech on November 16. She will explain Microsoft's three-pronged approach to Internet safety, share results from a recent cyberbullying survey, and highlight Microsoft's new partnership with iKeepSafe to help schools navigate the digital environment.
We recently received this message from a reader of our blog:
People on my contact list have received an email that's supposed to be from me telling them that I am in trouble and asking them to send me money. An address of a hotel where I was supposed to be staying (the address is genuine) and a suggested method of money transfer was given. How did this happen? How can I prevent it happening again?
This is a fairly common and very sinister scam because it preys on the goodwill of your friends. If people on your contact list are getting emails like this, it probably means that someone has stolen or guessed the password to your email account and your email address has been hijacked.
What to do:
If these methods don't work, contact your email provider. If you use Hotmail, see Hotmail hijacked? Here's what to do.
We carry a mind-boggling amount of information on our phones these days. And yet, we're not always that careful with them. If you lose your new Windows Phone, you can use the Find My Phone feature to protect your data in several ways:
For more information about Find My Phone, see Find a lost phone.
For more Windows Phone tips and tricks see, Windows Phone: Help and How-to.