Security experts are seeing an increase in spam in Hotmail, Gmail, and other Web mail accounts. Increasingly, the spam appears to be coming from people that the victims know. Researchers suspect that cybercriminals are stealing passwords and other account information through fraudulent e-mail scams and then using these new accounts to send spam to everyone in the victim’s inbox.
To help protect yourself from these scams, follow these three steps:
1. Guard your own account information.
2. Learn to recognize phishing scams in case the scams look like they’re coming from someone that you know.
3. Be careful with links in e-mail. They may direct you to spoofed Web sites.
If you think your Web e-mail account has been hacked, change your password. If you’re still having problems, see What to do if you’ve responded to a phishing scam for more steps to take.
For additional information, see the following articles:
· 5 tips to help keep your passwords secret
· How to reduce the risk of online fraud
· Scams that use Microsoft’s name or product names
· Avoid Advance Fee Fraud and other lottery scams
· Help protect your Windows Live ID
Windows 7, the newest operating system from Microsoft, simplifies computer security, making it easier for you to reduce the risk of viruses, spyware, and other malware. In addition, the improved backup solution helps keep information safe on your computer and in the cloud. Read about the new and improved safety, security, and privacy features in Windows 7.
· Backup and Restore – The Microsoft backup system is improved for Windows 7 and creates copies of your most important personal files, so you're always prepared for the worst.
· BitLocker - Improved for Windows 7 and available in the Ultimate edition, BitLocker Drive Encryption encrypts your Windows hard disk drive to help keep documents, passwords, and other important data safe. Once you turn on BitLocker, any file you save on that drive is encrypted automatically.
· Parental Controls - In Windows 7, Parental Controls help you limit how much computer time children have, in addition to which programs and games they can use and when they can use them.
· Windows Defender – Included in Windows 7, this program is your first line of defense against spyware and other unwanted software.
· Windows Firewall - Windows Firewall can help protect your PC from hackers and malicious software. In Windows 7, it's powerful and more flexible and easier to use than before.
Want the latest news on Windows 7? Read the Windows 7 Blog.
Microsoft releases security updates on the second Tuesday of every month. Today Microsoft released 13 new security updates.
Get the updates
To download the updates, visit the Microsoft Update Web site. If you have automatic updating turned on, your computer will update and install these security updates.
Read more about the updates.
Watch a video about the updates.
Get technical information about the updates
For technical details, visit Microsoft TechNet.
Malvertising might sound like a fancy kind of dry cleaning, but it’s really fake online advertising designed to trick you into downloading malicious software onto your computer. The most common kind of fake ad is for security software that you don’t need and that could harm your computer. This is often called “rogue security software” or “scareware.”
This month Microsoft continued its efforts to combat malvertising by filing five civil lawsuits against companies who allegedly create these fake ads.
For more information about the lawsuits, see BadAd: Going After the Malvertising Threat and Microsoft Advertising and Internet Safety Enforcement Team To Fight Malvertisers.
To help protect yourself against malvertising or scareware:
October is National Cyber Security Month and Microsoft is teaming up once again with the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) to help increase awareness about Internet security issues. The goal of our online materials is to help you educate yourself, your families, your friends, your students, your employees, or your community. To help protect your computer, follow these steps:
· Turn on your Internet firewall.
· Keep all your software current (including your Web browser) with automatic updating.
· Install and maintain antivirus software and antispyware software, such as Microsoft Security Essentials.
· Only install software from a company that you trust. Watch out for fake antivirus or antispyware software.
For more information, see Stay safer online for National Cyber Security Month or visit the NCSA Web site.