Security for Home Computer Users: E-mail scams and how you can spot them

Sign up for other newsletters | Unsubscribe | Update your profile Volume 6, Number 4 April 14, 2009 Welcome to Security for Home Computer Users, a monthly newsletter bringing security news, guidance, updates, and community resources directly to your inbox. If you would like to receive more technical security information, please subscribe to the Microsoft Security Newsletter. E-mail scams and how you can spot them There are thousands of e-mail scams out there, and creative online criminals are always coming up with more. A recent example: bogus e-mail that supposedly confirms an airline ticket reservation. Others include the recurrent "Microsoft Lottery" e-mail scam and other fake communications that appear to come from Microsoft. Your best defense against this type of fraud? Learn the telltale signs of a fraudulent e-mail and follow these steps if you receive a suspicious message. Microsoft security news New trends in malware: Microsoft releases Security Intelligence Report The latest Microsoft Security Intelligence report was released on April 8. Read about current malware techniques and other findings, including advice on how to combat new online threats. Worried about the Conficker worm? If you've installed all the latest security updates, your computer is probably not infected. Visit Microsoft Update to verify your settings and check for updates. If you can't access Microsoft Update, go to http://safety.live.com and scan your system. Security updates Security updates for April 14, 2009 The bulletin for April includes eight security updates: five for the Windows operating system, one for Windows Internet Explorer, one for Microsoft ISA Server, and one for Microsoft Office. Get updates from Microsoft Update See a summary of the updates Read technical details about the updates Protect your computer Downloading music, software, or images from the Web? Take these steps before you begin to help ensure you don't accidentally get viruses or spyware, too. How to choose a firewall There are three types of firewalls. Learn the pros and cons of each, so you can decide which is best for you. Protect yourself and your family What is a cookie? Learn why Web sites put cookies on your computer - and why that's okay. How hard are your passwords to crack? Use our Password Checker to test the strength of your passwords, and get tips for making them stronger. How to decide what data to back up See suggestions about which files to back up - starting with those that would be hard to re-create. 10 tips to help kids deal with online bullies Do your kids play online multiplayer video games? Help them steer clear of taunting and hazing online with this common-sense advice. Security resources • Security At Home site • Security Tips & Talk blog • Support for your home computer security issues • TechNet Security TechCenter for IT pros To cancel your subscription to this newsletter, reply to this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line. You can also unsubscribe here. You can manage all your Microsoft.com communication preferences at this site. Legal Information This newsletter was sent by the Microsoft Corporation 1 Microsoft Way Redmond, Washington, USA 98052 Sign up for other newsletters | Unsubscribe | Update your profile © 2009 Microsoft Corporation Terms of Use | Trademarks | Privacy Statement