IE7 Beta 2 Trojan Alert!

Hi,

A mail purporting to be from "admin@microsoft.com", with a clickable graphic for "Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2" is doing the rounds. This links to an executable called update.exe at a site called "dzwebsolutions.net" and IS NOT a genuine message from Microsoft. I do not have the facilities to test what it does but I strongly advise that you DO NOT click! Delete it immediately.

What alerted me, apart from the fact that Microsoft doesn't send out such messages, is that Internet Explorer 7 is no longer in Beta, if you want a copy you can download it from the Microsoft website.

This kind of message should always ring alarm bells. A big way machines are hacked these days is by tricking people to just visit a URL. If you use IE be particularly wary of links because there have been some really serious flaws in IE of late the allow for an attacker to take TOTAL CONTROL of your machine if you stray onto their web page!

Also, make very sure to update your operating system reguarly no matter what it is.

Finally, if you use IE you should install the NoScript addon/plugin to keep yourself a bit more protected online.

Bart.