Hoax?

[Brian]

In the month of March, I received an email from Microsoft
telling me to download the latest update (patch4.exe). I
opened it, but it failed to update the system. I have
been reading in this newsgroup that Microsoft does send
attachment through emails. Is this a hoax?

How can I detect a hoax on my system?

Any assistance would be appreciated!

Brian

[Jupiter Jones]

Brian.
Microsoft does not send security messages unless you request them.
Even then they will NEVER have an attachment.
What you received was a virus.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/security/news/patch_hoax.asp
Delete the message and the attachment immediately.

Also run an immediate virus scan.

--
Jupiter Jones
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
Please respond to newsgroup only for everyone's benefit.


"Brian" > wrote in message
...
> In the month of March, I received an email from Microsoft
> telling me to download the latest update (patch4.exe). I
> opened it, but it failed to update the system. I have
> been reading in this newsgroup that Microsoft does send
> attachment through emails. Is this a hoax?
>
> How can I detect a hoax on my system?
>
> Any assistance would be appreciated!
>
> Brian