Strange happening today with Malware

scopio · 02 Feb 2017

I powered on my desktop and my Hitman Pro Scheduled Quick Scan when I first power on it flagged up a suspicious file which I deleted and the restarted the pc. When I signed in (with a local account) the screen displayed a message that the pc could not sign in, I suspect my Microsoft account which I do not use to sign in to my pc anyway. The screen loaded to my desk top with a completely different configuration. I powered off the pc and powered it on again after 20 seconds and the pc started as usual with no problems.
I would like to make other posters aware that I received an email which I have added a screenshot below which I suspect is malware. I did not click on any of its links before the above issue occurred.
I am still to determine in the next 24 hours if in fact my Microsoft email accounts will be terminated as the email suggests!

Strange happening today with Malware-2017-02-02_13-46-07.jpg

dencal · 02 Feb 2017

Microsoft would only contact you by*E-mail using your registered Microsoft account e-mail.
You were wise*not to click on what looks to be a very suspicious link.

Borg 386 · 02 Feb 2017

I wouldn't trust it. Usually you can see the addy displayed if you hover the cursor over the link. I'd check that & see where it really leads to.

telepro21 · 02 Feb 2017

In regard to your concern about your Microsoft accounts, I would recommend that you access your account from a different device and, if not already set up, begin using two-factor authentication. It is not a total certainty of account protection, but every little bit helps. In fact, I recommend using two-factor authentication for all accounts that permit its use.

Bree · 02 Feb 2017

scopio said:

...I received an email which I have added a screenshot below which I suspect is malware....

It undoubtedly is (and not a very good scam, either). Look at the 'From' address in your screenshot. Since when has Microsoft used Gmail addresses?

cottonball · 02 Feb 2017

scopio,

That is probably a Phishing scam email.

That type of email can also be sent by people you know, if their email account or their computers/mobile devices were hacked and used for sending phishing email.

Be aware of email that has strange content, even though it is coming from friends!

mrgeek · 03 Feb 2017

MS will only contact you by email if someone has, even yourself, has tried to change something with your account or used it to try to sign in to a device unsuccessfully. Easy enough to check, from a browser that YOU open, NOT a link in an email, go to http://account.microsoft.com Sign in and you can see if active and hit the Security tab to view recent activity under your sign in and "Update your security info" where you can have MS send a code to a secondary email acct oor text to your phone if your log in is attempted on a diff computer than your own.