Tech Is request for account security update a scam?

[oldfisherman]

I logged into my email account. A "verification request" from Microsoft cropped up. I could not see my emails, just the verification request.

There was a box to “remind me later”, which removed the “verification request” and I could then see my emails.

It appears to be a legitimate request from Microsoft. But the hacking rascals are getting so clever, I was afraid to click on opening the request.

Has anyone else received this request, and was it legitimate?

 

[Sedatedfork]

Sounds phishy

 

[oldfisherman]

Looks phishy to me to. My computer has not had any problems, so far.

I have an email in my box from Microsoft. It’s a bill to renew my internet software that used to be free, now $59.95 year. I can see the email address on that notice before I open it. I can not see any address on the “verification request”, it just pops up when I log in instead of my emails.

Even if it is a legitimate Microsoft request, I do not like this approach.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Looks phishy to me to. My computer has not had any problems, so far.

I have an email in my box from Microsoft. It’s a bill to renew my internet software that used to be free, now $59.95 year. I can see the email address on that notice before I open it. I can not see any address on the “verification request”, it just pops up when I log in instead of my emails.

Even if it is a legitimate Microsoft request, I do not like this approach.

Send me $49.95 and I'll take care of this for you.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

And yes, it sounds fishy.

What internet software are you talking about?

 

[oldfisherman]

MSN

 

[SlyPokerDog]

MSN

What operating system are you using? I don't think I've seen MSN since Windows 95.

 

[oldfisherman]

Windows XP Pro 2002

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Windows XP Pro 2002

Microsoft doesn't support that anymore. There haven't been any security updates for that OS for years. Not sure what hardware you're running but you need to do some upgrading.

 

[oldfisherman]

I see a notice from Microsoft every time I start up my computer that they no longer support my system, and it pisses me off. MSN still works fine for me.

I am not buying a new computer, and if I ever do, it will not be a Microsoft. I hate a company that stops supporting a system they sold me, just to get me to buy their new equipment. Their old system works fine.

My main concern with switching my email from MSN is if I can still keep my old MSN email address? I get a lot business related emails on the MSN address. I have many old clients around the country I still do some side work for. Even though I am retired, it helps to pay for some of my toys.

Plus I have very specialized software I use in my now part time work that will not run on the new systems. It would cost me a fortune to replace that specialized software.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Yes.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I see a notice from Microsoft every time I start up my computer that they no longer support my system, and it pisses me off. MSN still works fine for me.

I am not buying a new computer, and if I ever do, it will not be a Microsoft. I hate a company that stops supporting a system they sold me, just to get me to buy their new equipment. Their old system works fine.

My main concern with switching my email from MSN is if I can still keep my old MSN email address? I get a lot business related emails on the MSN address. I have many old clients around the country I still do some side work for. Even though I am retired, it helps to pay for some of my toys.

Plus I have very specialized software I use in my now part time work that will not run on the new systems. It would cost me a fortune to replace that specialized software.

A couple of things...

You can set up a gmail email account to send and receive your MSN email. Gmail is much better and if you get a smartphone you'll get notifications of emails.

It doesn't make any sense for Microsoft to continue to support that old of software. I doubt you have a Microsoft computer, you are running a Microsoft operating system.

The latest version of Windows has a compatibility mode so you can run older software in it.

Worst case, if this specialty software for some reason won't work in a new computer running the latest version of Windows you should still be surfing the web only on a new/newer system. Sounds like you have important data and information on your computer. You're exposing it to bad shit running that old of an operating system. Keep your old system in the corner ready to run for your customers but you need to be on something newer for surfing. I bet you don't even know that all porn on the internet is in 3D now. Your current system is too old to show it.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Can we change his username from "oldfisherman" to "oldcomputerman" until he upgrades @SlyPokerDog?

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Just buy a new $200-250 laptop every couple years. We live in merica' damnit!

 

[MarAzul]

I logged into my email account. A "verification request" from Microsoft cropped up. I could not see my emails, just the verification request.

There was a box to “remind me later”, which removed the “verification request” and I could then see my emails.

It appears to be a legitimate request from Microsoft. But the hacking rascals are getting so clever, I was afraid to click on opening the request.

Has anyone else received this request, and was it legitimate?

Yep. Had one of those about 3 days ago. It appeared to be from Microsoft but that is BS. Three programs were were install that same day not of my knowledge all were in Windows Programs.

I usually run with Spybot set on paranoid but I forgot and they got me. Not too tricky though, I found them rather easily, just look in the taskmanager for some unknown task, killed it and the message went away. Deleted the crap in Windows Programs, ran Regsupreme and that cleaned them out.

Sypbot is back on paranoid.

I don't remember the names of those programs, but the dates of the folder will give them away.

 

[oldfisherman]

A couple of things...

You can set up a gmail email account to send and receive your MSN email. Gmail is much better and if you get a smartphone you'll get notifications of emails.

It doesn't make any sense for Microsoft to continue to support that old of software. I doubt you have a Microsoft computer, you are running a Microsoft operating system.

The latest version of Windows has a compatibility mode so you can run older software in it.

Worst case, if this specialty software for some reason won't work in a new computer running the latest version of Windows you should still be surfing the web only on a new/newer system. Sounds like you have important data and information on your computer. You're exposing it to bad shit running that old of an operating system. Keep your old system in the corner ready to run for your customers but you need to be on something newer for surfing. I bet you don't even know that all porn on the internet is in 3D now. Your current system is too old to show it.

Thank you for your help on Gmail, which is the info I needed. I will seriously look into it. I am not 100% happy with MSN.

You are correct, running Microsoft system; I thought the rest was just memory and a box with holes to plug things into it.

I checked to see if my specialized software would work on all of the newer Microsoft systems, except the last one. None of them worked. I did not check into the very latest system.

Not sure I can handle porn in 3D. Plus my sheep would get jealous.

Truth is, I am about ready to stick my computer into the trash. Once I sell my home in Vancouver, and move full time to my cave in Idaho, I will get rid of my computer. I have good access to a computer in Idaho, at a nearby library. That is all I will need when I am 100% retired, which probably will happen later this year, maybe sooner if my system crashes from this possible threat in the OP.


So shopping for a new computer is not in my future plans. But appreciate all of your help. I am trying to nurse this old system along before I shut it down and spend all of my time fishing the PNW in the summer, and drinking tequila on a Baja beach in the winter. I don’t need a computer for those dirty jobs. But someone has to do them.

 

[oldfisherman]

Yep. Had one of those about 3 days ago. It appeared to be from Microsoft but that is BS. Three programs were were install that same day not of my knowledge all were in Windows Programs.

I usually run with Spybot set on paranoid but I forgot and they got me. Not too tricky though, I found them rather easily, just look in the taskmanager for some unknown task, killed it and the message went away. Deleted the crap in Windows Programs, ran Regsupreme and that cleaned them out.

Sypbot is back on paranoid.

I don't remember the names of those programs, but the dates of the folder will give them away.

Thank you for your help. Now I have a place to start to get rid of the rascals.