Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' Email Scam

Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email messages are phishing scams that try to trick random email users into giving away their Windows Live login information. The SpywareRemove.com malware research team has found Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email scams to be typical examples of phishing that use inaccurately-labeled links and fake login websites to lure you into giving away your information via false pretenses. If you give Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email scams your information, you should immediately take appropriate steps to change all related passwords and user names, to avoid any compromises to your account. However, even if you don't give Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email scams your information, simply clicking their links may be enough to expose you to spyware or other forms of harmful software, and in such circumstances, it's recommended that you launch a full system scan with appropriate security software, just in case.
 

Sorting Out a Fake Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' Email from the Real Deal

Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email messages distribute themselves to any email account that they can find, although email accounts with generic and easily-guessed names or accounts that have been previously compromised are slightly more likely to see a Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email attack. All Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email messages play on the simple fear of losing access to your Windows software-related accounts and request that you re-enter this account information with the message that has been reproduced below.
 
Dear [random name],
 
We are sending you this e-mail because Microsoft SmartScreen Technology has detected that your account information is not correct.
 
This may be because your Hotmail account was accessed from an unfamiliar computer or you have made charges in your account information.
 
Due to this you will need to re-activate it your account by simply logging in on the following link:
 
[phishing site URL]
 
Failure to active your account in 24 hours may result in permanent account suspension.
In most situations, you should be able to activate your account in less than one minute.
 
Regards,
WindowsLive Security Team
 
Microsoft respects your privacy. Please read online Privacy Statement.
 
© 2011 Microsoft Corporation.
 
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
 
Fortunately, there are several easy methods of discerning between a Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email and a real email from Microsoft:

• Typos. Although real Microsoft messages are based on templates that have been corrected for such trivial errors, the sample that SpywareRemove.com malware researchers have examined, reproduced above, has several unprofessional errors with its typography.
• The inclusion of direct links. Real Microsoft messages, unlike Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email phishing messages, will refrain from providing direct links due to their easily-exploitable nature. The link that Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email messages provide will pretend to direct you to a safe website, but careful analysis reveals that they redirect you to a hostile site (specifically, to a Word Press blog that imitates the Windows Live login screen).
• A return e-mail address that doesn't match the address of a genuine contact from Microsoft.

Deleting a Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email is the safest thing that you can do once you recognize it; if you've had no further contact with this phishing scam, your troubles should be over.
 

Climbing Out of Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' Email's Pit Trap

If you gave away your information to a Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email scam or visited its link, you should consider your account information and your PC itself to be in danger and take appropriate countermeasures. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers have found the following tactics to be effective defenses against Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email, 'Receipt for payment to Skype', Survey Prize Center, 'Protect your Visa card online with a personal password', 'New email address added to your account!' and similar phishing scams:

• If you've clicked a Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email link, your PC may be infected by dropper Trojans, spyware, worms, browser hijackers or other types of malicious software. Because drive-by-download style scripts can install malicious programs without your permission, you should assume that any exposure to a Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email website has infected your PC and scan your entire system with an anti-malware product. Disabling scripts, such as Flash and Java, and keeping your browser fully up-to-date can reduce the possibility of these attacks.
• If you've given away your personal information to a Windows Live 'Re-activate your account' email phishing scam, immediately change your account password and, if relevant, your user name. Afterwards, contact the appropriate company for advice on other methods to secure your account and to defend your account from future break-ins.

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