Knowing when to trust a website depends in part on who publishes it, what information they want, and what you want from the site. Here are five reasons to think twice before sharing information with a website. 1. The site asks for personal information on a page whose URL does not start with HTTPS. If the […]
Bob writes: My antivirus software keeps turning off and I can’t get it back on. Here are the most common reasons you might encounter this problem: Your computer is already infected with rogue security software The warning that you’re antivirus software is turned off might be a fake alert, also known as “rogue security software.” […]
A reader writes: Can I use Microsoft Security Essentials with Windows 8? No—but you don’t need to. Windows 8 includes Windows Defender, a program that provides enhanced protection against viruses and spyware. Learn more about Windows 8 If your computer is running Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, we recommend downloading Microsoft Security Essentials or […]
A Microsoft account (formerly known as a Windows Live ID) is a single email address and password you use to sign in to various Microsoft products and services. If you have a device that runs Windows 8 or Windows RT or you use a service like Hotmail, Outlook.com, or Xbox LIVE, you probably already have […]
You may have seen reports about security alerts for Java recently. Java is a commonly used piece of software from Oracle, so there’s a good chance you have it installed on your computer. Cybercriminals often use fake virus alerts to lure you into buying fraudulent antivirus software. These alerts state that your computer or other […]
We’ve received reports of a recent email scam that spoofs the Microsoft Services Agreement. The scam email message replaces legitimate links in the agreement with links that can compromise your computer when clicked. If you receive mail that looks like the real agreement or asks you to click a suspicious link or to provide personal […]
Today we released a downloadable tool called a “Fix it” for Internet Explorer. On September 21, we will release a cumulative update for Internet Explorer through Windows Update. We recommend that you install this update immediately. If you have automatic updating enabled on your computer, you won’t need to take any action – it will […]
Rogue security software (also known as "scareware") creates pop-up warnings that look like legitimate security updates. It provides limited or no security and generates erroneous or misleading alerts.
Think your computer might have a virus? The Microsoft Security scanner is a free download that will scan your computer and help you remove viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Download Microsoft Safety Scanner The scanner is not a replacement for antivirus software. It contains the latest anti-malware definitions, but it works with your antivirus […]
To get updates for Windows and other Microsoft programs at the same time, including updates for Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and more), go to the Microsoft Update website.
