Try Outlook.com
Outlook.com is Microsoft’s new free cloud email service for personal use. You can use Outlook.com with the Outlook desktop application, via the web at http://outlook.com, or via other email apps that...
View ArticleHelp! My account is sending out spam
Laura writes:My Hotmail email address has been hacked. Someone sent out a spam email to everyone in my address book. What do I do?If it makes you feel any better, Laura, we get this question a lot....
View ArticleFraud alert: Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit scam
We’ve received reports about a new phishing scam email that tells “email users across the world” to validate their email account or it will be deleted from “the world email server.”This email is fake,...
View ArticleThe $500 Costco card scam
Many respondents to a recent Microsoft survey expressed concern about trickier scams that are happening on social networks. The Microsoft Malware Protection Center recently blogged about one of these...
View ArticleOnline fraud: Get practical advice
Need help spotting an online scam? Download our new free 12-page booklet called Online Fraud: Your Guide to Prevention, Detection, and Recovery.This guide includes:Real-world examples of false promises...
View ArticleTake care with ransomware
Have you ever received an email or seen a warning page on a website claiming that legal authorities had detected illegal activities on your computer?This scam infects your computer with a type of...
View ArticleWatch out for prize scams
We’ve seen an increase in scam email messages that promise recipients they have won some kind of prize or a lottery. These unsolicited messages will often claim that the prize is sponsored by Microsoft...
View ArticleFiling taxes? Beware of scams
It’s tax season in the United States, which means it’s time for us to remind you about tax scams—especially email messages that appear to come from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or another...
View Article“Cyber Crime Department” scam
We’ve received increased reports of a new phishing scam email message that uses the name and official logo of the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit (DCU). The wording varies, but it looks like a security...
View ArticleCatfishing: Are you falling for it?
The news is filled with stories about people, famous and otherwise, getting caught in online dating scams. The phenomenon is so common that it now has a name: Catfishing. The term catfishing comes from...
View ArticleFraud alert: Prize scams
John writes: I received an email that said that I won a prize from Microsoft and I am concerned that others may fall for this scam. Can't anything be done about these types of scams?The Microsoft...
View ArticleDo you know what your kids are doing online?
Last month McAfee released results from their 2012 Teen Internet Behavior study. The study revealed that 61 percent of teens think that they can successfully hide their online behavior from their...
View ArticleHave authorities detected illegal activities on my computer?
John writes:I got an email saying that illegal materials were found on my computer and it would be locked until I paid a fine. Is this a scam?Yes, this sounds like a common blackmail scam called...
View Article3 ways to help protect your Microsoft account
A Microsoft account—formerly known as a Windows Live ID—is the combination of an email address and a password that you use to sign in to services such as Xbox LIVE and Outlook.com, as well as devices...
View ArticleMicrosoft won’t ask for your credit card to unblock your email account
Tom asks:I’m getting messages from Microsoft about my email account. The messages say that my account is blocked and I can only unblock it with a credit card number. Is this legit?No, these messages...
View Article10 New Year’s resolutions for your digital devices and your online life
It’s a new year, which means it’s time to resolve to create healthier habits in our daily lives. But we don’t have to stop at just improving our body, mind, and spirit. It’s also a good idea to resolve...
View Article5 safety tips for online dating
If you’re going to be connecting online this Valentine’s Day (or ever), follow these safety and privacy tips.Avoid catfishing. This is a type of social engineering designed to entice you into a...
View ArticleTax scams: 6 ways to help protect yourself
We’ve received reports that cybercriminals are at it again, luring unsuspecting taxpayers in the United States into handing over their personal information as they rush to file their taxes before the...
View ArticleHow to recover an account if you haven’t already added security information...
A reader asks:What can I do if my account has been hacked and I haven’t already added security information to it?It would be easier to recover your account if you had already associated it with...
View ArticleApril Fools! The most popular pranks cybercriminals use to steal your money
To celebrate April Fool’s Day, read about the email, web, social networking, and phone scams that we hear about most often.Scams that use the Microsoft name or names of other well-known companies....
View Article5 ways to protect your Microsoft account
Your Microsoft account (formerly your Windows Live ID) is the combination of an email address and a password that you use to sign in to services such as Xbox LIVE and Outlook.com, as well as devices...
View ArticleWhy do I have to update my email account information?
We’ve noticed comments from many of you asking why we want you to verify your Microsoft security information. We’d like to explain why verifying this information is important. To help protect your...
View ArticleCreate stronger passwords and protect them
All week we’ll be posting our best guidance on how to create, protect, and manage your passwords.Passwords are your first line of defense against hackers. Pick passwords that are difficult to crack but...
View ArticleDo you know your kids’ passwords?
This is the second of two blog posts on password protection. Read Part 1: Create strong passwords and protect them.Whether or not you should know all of your kids’ passwords depends on their age, how...
View ArticleCongratulations! You’ve won $800,000!!
Well, maybe not.But that’s just one of the many ploys that scammers send in their relentless efforts to part people from their money or sensitive personal information like passwords and account...
View Article