I was checking my email’s Spam folder today and one message that really caught my attention is the spam email with the subject “Angelina Jolie’s Free Video”. No, I was not intrigued by the subject but I saw my very own email address as the sender of the message. I opened the message and it says I receive the email because I am subscribed to MSN featured offers.
Content of the MSN Featured Offers Spam
Here is the edited content of the email:
Click Here! (I removed the link but it leads to http://195.190.13.98/video-nude-anjelina.avi.exe. please do not open the link in your browser, it might contain viruses or spywares!)
About this mailing:
You are receiving this e-mail because you subscribed to MSN Featured Offers. Microsoft respects your privacy. If you do not wish to receive this MSN Featured Offers e-mail, please click the “Unsubscribe” link below. This will not unsubscribe you from e-mail communications from third-party advertisers that may appear in MSN Feature Offers. This shall not constitute an offer by MSN. MSN shall not be responsible or liable for the advertisers’ content nor any of the goods or service advertised. Prices and item availability subject to change without notice.©2008 Microsoft | Unsubscribe | More Newsletters | Privacy
Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052
Now, I do not remember subscribing to MSN featured offers so I decided to google for some information. It appeared that the MSN Featured Offers is really a spam message and it is becoming a culprit to many email users.
Is the email really from MSN?
A respectable company such as Microsoft would not be sending nude videos of the “Wanted” star even to their subscribers. I honestly believe the message comes from spammers, not from MSN. It appears that the MSN featured spam actually uses the recipient’s address as the sender.
How I got the MSN featured Offers Spam
Honestly, I do not know how I started receiving this type of spam but I remembered doing something before spam messages started flooding in my spam folder. Last month, I signed up to a site that allows people to use their free vectors but only upon sign up. I signed up using my major email and was advised I can only start using their vectors upon confirmation of my email address. The confirmation never arrived but I have been receiving more spam messages ever since. I still consider some carelessness on my part though as potential reason why I receive this spam.
How to stop receiving the MSN featured Offers spam
This is the hard part. It is difficult to stop receiving or remove this MSN featured offers spam messages once they get into your mailbox. I still have to figure out how I can really get rid of receiving this message. Nevertheless, here are some things that you might find helpful:
1. Mark the MSN featured offers message as Spam. If you receive the mail in your inbox and not in your spam folder, mark it as spam, this will help your email service provider identify these messages as spam and will likely filter them out in the future.
2. Do not click the unsubscribe link. Clicking unsubscribe links and buttons coming from spam messages, will just confirm your email is working and ready to receive more spam messages.
3. Do not open or click on any link that comes along with the email. You may be likely getting Trojan or TR/Crypt.XPACK.Gen file.
If you have any advice how to stop this MSN featured offers spam, please leave a comment, your advice is greatly appreciated (and needed).
Spam solution
One of the ways to eliminate spam is to use spam blocking software in your computer. There are several anti spam solution available that you can take advantage of. The Barracuda anti spam filtering solutions company, for example, which specializes in anti spam service, offers a number of spam filtering solutions including barracuda spam products that block spyware, viruses and spam from getting through a computer system.
August 13th, 2009 at 6:11 am
That?s a great article,it reinforces thing?s I?ve known but I don?t think is common knowledge.
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:39 am
Hi!
if you are using Outlook do what Jim Says (January 7th, 2009 at 1:25 am) make one or more rules, as simple as that, there is no other way.
Example:
1) Make one rule with the word “Viagra”
2) Another rule with the phrase “MSN Featured Offers”
.
.
.
1958) and finaly make a rule with “For fantastic coitus!”.
Remember to check frecuently for real email in your spam folder.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Hi, there!
I’m from Brazil and I also get these spams at my job’s e-mail. I really don’t know how did they start, and I can’t understand where “they” caught my e-mail, since I rarely use it. I have a personal e-mail I’m receiving these spam too, and for a gmail account I could create a filter for these messages sent from “me”, to go for the trash if they don’t come with a special word I made.
Anyway, at first I saw the e-mail, I went to the “unsubscribe” link and, of course, on site there’s no any place we can go to do that. The FAQ doesn’t work, there’s no telephone or e-mail for contact and it seems there’s no even how the buy the products, because links there don’t work! What makes me angry is that I don’t want to have to create a filter, I just don’t want to get these spams. I’m a young woman, I don’t need and don’t know anyone who need Viagra pills, fortunatelly!