I just got an email from Microsoft claiming to have a vital security update for Internet Explorer. Knowing this was not typical for them, I checked the header and learned that it was in fact from someone with an obscene username in Australia.

Microsoft does NOT email security updates. If you ever get something like this, delete it immediately!

Thanks for the heads up. Why, though, does my junk e-mail usually consist of specials on used scanning electron microscopes or pre owned gene sequencers? Everybody else gets the interesting stuff....Tom

I got a similar email today with an attachment that turned out to be a virus. W32.Magistr.39921@mm was the virus Norton detected

That's good to know about Doug. Thanks for posting.

Ed

MSFT issues security warnings IF you're subscribed... Here's an excerpt. If you're NOT subscribed, I'd be suspicious.
xxxxxx
From: "Microsoft" <0_28221_089DCC48-9C48-4F88-A55D-206893E4C652_US@Newsletters.Microsoft.com>
To: dannyraphael@yahoo.com
Subject: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS02-015
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 15:47:03 -0800

Title: 28 March 2002 Cumulative Patch for Internet Explorer
Date: 28 March 2002
Software: Internet Explorer
Impact: Two vulnerabilities, the most serious of which
would allow script to run in the Local Computer Zone.
Max Risk: Critical
Bulletin: MS02-015

Microsoft encourages customers to review the Security Bulletin at: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS02-015.asp

ISSUE: This is a cumulative patch that includes the functionality of all previously released patches for IE 5.01, 5.5 and IE 6. In addition, it eliminates the following two newly discovered vulnerabilities:
xxxxxxx

Danny,
Thanks for posting that. I have been getting those and when this warning came out I was confused. I will definately be careful when I get messages from Microsoft.
DJ

Tom queries -- "Why, though, does my junk e-mail usually consist of specials on used scanning electron microscopes or pre owned gene sequencers? "

The rest of us have our spam eliminators set specifically to delete all messages containing the words "scanning electron microscopes" and "gene sequencers"

;)