Re: Microsoft sends viruses?

From: Alex Nichol (alexn.mvpdts_at_ntlworld.delete.com)
Date: 02/28/04 

Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 19:28:15 +0000

Lambert +++++++ wrote:

>I received in my hotmail inbox a message From "Technical Support" with the
>object: " newest Microsoft patch".
>
>I didn't open this mail and tried to block it. But Hotmail says that
>messages from Microsoft cannot be blocked.
>
>Than I copied this message to my outlook inbox and my virus scanner told me
>not to open because the attachment contains a virus!
>
>Conclusion: Microsoft sends viruses.

The fact that message is said to be 'from' someone does not mean that
it is. Many viruses and trojan worms 'spoof' the From/Reply headers in
messages so as to appear to be from someone different. As in this case.
Very often they pick one address out of the address book on an infected
machine to send them selves to; and another to appear as 'From'. So do
not assume a message from your closest friend is from him: it may well
have such a virus and come from some machine that knows you both. 

-- 
Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
Bournemouth, U.K.  Alexn@mvps.D8E8L.org (remove the D8 bit)

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