Microsoft Windows Update emails try to steal your Gmail, Yahoo, AOL passwords…

Graham Cluley
Graham Cluley
@
@[email protected]
@gcluley

Beware any emails which claim to come from [email protected] – it could be that you’re being targeted in an attack designed to steal your AOL, Gmail, Yahoo or Windows Live password.

At first glance, if you don’t look too carefully, the emails entitled “Microsoft Windows Update” may appear harmless enough. But the grammatical errors and occasional odd language should raise alarms bells that the emails may not really be from Microsoft.

Dear Windows User,
It has come to our attention that your Microsoft windows Installation records are out of date. Every Windows installation has to be tied to an email account for daily update.

This requires you to verify the Email Account. Failure to verify your records will result in account suspension. Click on the Verify button below and enter your login information on the following page to confirm your records.

VERIFY

Thank you,

Microsoft Windows Team.

If you do make the mistake of clicking on the link you are taken to a third party website (not the real Microsoft.com), where you are warned that your computer is at high risk and told to choose between logging in via Gmail, Windows Live, Yahoo or AOL…

Read more in my article on the Naked Security website.

Found this article interesting? Follow Graham Cluley on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads to read more of the exclusive content we post.


Graham Cluley is a veteran of the cybersecurity industry, having worked for a number of security companies since the early 1990s when he wrote the first ever version of Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows. Now an independent analyst, he regularly makes media appearances and is an international public speaker on the topic of cybersecurity, hackers, and online privacy. Follow him on Twitter, Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky, or drop him an email.

What do you think? Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.