If you like to keep up-to-date on online security and you’re on Twitter, you might want to follow our online safety team.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll get:

·         Quick tips on how to stay safe online

·         Links to our latest articles, brochures, and videos

·         Retweets from some of most popular online safety experts on the Internet.

To follow us, go to http://www.twitter.com/Safer_Online.

Want to learn more about how to use Twitter with Microsoft products? See Connect with others using Windows Mobile and Twitter, Twitter on Xbox, and How to Twitter in Outlook.

E-card viruses are nothing new, but we still like to post a reminder this time of year when you’re more likely to expect e-greetings.

Messages that look like electronic greeting cards might hide viruses, spyware, and other malware. You should also be aware that some virus warnings are greatly exaggerated and may even include elements of scams themselves. For more information, see Mixture of real virus warning and hoax.

How to avoid fake e-cards

• Recognize the sender of the e-card. If you don't know the sender, do not trust the card. Legitimate companies have standard, obvious ways for you to recognize that the e-mail is not a fraud.
  
  For example, with MSN Greetings, the "from" always shows "Ecard from MSN Greetings" as the display name and "[email protected]" as the e-mail address.
  
  Make sure you check both the display name and e-mail address of the sender.
• When in doubt, use alternative viewing methods. Do not click any links when you are not sure of the sender or intent of the e-mail message. 
  
  For example, if you use MSN Greetings, you can view your greeting on the MSN Greetings Web site. Type "msn.americangreetings.com" into your Web browser and click the link in the upper right-hand corner that says, “ecard pickup.”

For more information about e-card scams and other fraud, see Phishing scams that target activities, interests, or news events.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download for home computers running on the Windows operating system. This software helps protect your computer from viruses, spyware, and other malware.

Windows Defender is built into Windows Vista and Windows 7 and it's available as a free download for Windows XP. Windows Defender helps protect your computer from spyware and some other potentially unwanted software, but it will not protect against viruses.

In other words, Windows Defender only protects against a subset of known malicious software but Microsoft Security Essentials protects against ALL known malicious software.

If you have Windows Vista or Windows 7 and you install Microsoft Security Essentials, the installation process will automatically disable (but not uninstall) Windows Defender. If you are using Windows XP and you download and install Windows Defender and in addition you want to install Microsoft Security Essentials, you will see a warning to uninstall Windows Defender before completing the installation for Microsoft Security Essentials.