Email-delivered trojan horse masquerading as email from Microsoft
This email message (viewed here in Outlook Express) looks like a Microsoft-issued email message about a security update. But it contains a trojan horse which installs a worm.
Tipoffs: poor use of capitalization; lack of customization in address; email likely not requested or solicited by you.
Action: delete the message immediately.
Alternatives: See our page on system updates for more discussion of safe updating practices.
Inline ad which appears as window
These advertisements appear on web pages. They have the colors and border of a standard Windows XP or Windows 95 window. Their use of these colors and designs gives them a legitimate appearance which is undeserved. The first ad links to an online survey which collects personal information (including one's email address); the second installs software which displays advertising (adware).
Tipoffs: Window lacks "help" (?) and "close" (X) boxes in upper right; "click here" instead of "OK" or other functions; entire "window" is a link.
Action: Ignore these advertisements.
Alternatives: the National Weather Service (which supplies all the information used by WeatherBug).
Popup ads which appear to be system alerts
These ads masquerade as Windows dialogue boxes and offer useful services. However, they install software which delivers advertising on a regular basis, and collects information about your browsing habits, compromising your privacy and wasting your computer's resources. (This software is commonly called "adware.")
Ironically, the "System Soap" advertisement, which mimics the "blue screen of death" that appears when Windows crashes, promises to clean up your system and protect your privacy. It does the opposite.
Tipoffs: In both windows, "Microsoft Internet Explorer" in title bar shows that this is a web pop-up. One ad admits its true nature with "advertisement" in the upper right; in the other, the entire window is a link (not just the "OK" button).
Action: Close by clicking the "X" box in the upper right.
Alternatives: the National Institute of Standards & Technology time service; security and privacy products from Symantec or other vendors.
