Do not trust fake "Suspicious Login Attempt On Your Windows Computer" email

What kind of email is "Suspicious Login Attempt On Your Windows Computer"?

After inspecting the "Suspicious Login Attempt On Your Windows Computer" email, we determined that it is spam operating as a technical support scam.

The letter is presented as an alert from Microsoft/ Windows Security Center. It states that a suspect sign-in attempt has been made to the recipient's computer. The fake email urges the recipient to call the provided helpline in order to address this threat.

"Suspicious Login Attempt On Your Windows Computer" email scam overview

The spam email alerts the recipient that a suspicious log-in attempt has been detected on their Windows computer. Allegedly, the connection came from a foreign IP address, and the letter lists details associated with this activity. If the recipient does not recognize it, they are to immediately call the provided helpline and contact the "Microsoft Security Center".

The email warns that if the issue is not resolved, the recipient's Windows license key might get corrupted, and their online banking and social networking accounts may get stolen.

It must be emphasized that all these claims are false, and this letter is in no way associated with the actual Microsoft Corporation.

This spam email is used to facilitate a callback scam, specifically – a tech support scam. The aim is to trick victims into calling fake helplines and entangling them in a scheme.

Typically, the scammers request to remotely access users' devices (e.g., via software like TeamViewer, UltraViewer, AnyDesk, etc.). Once connected, the cyber criminals continue the pretense of being genuine support staff (e.g., "Microsoft-certified technicians", etc.). They can pretend to perform system scans, detect connections from foreign IP addresses, remove malware, install security tools, etc.

Scammers can cause a wide variety of damage while connected to victims' computers. For example, they may disable/remove genuine security software, install fake anti-viruses, steal sensitive data, or infect the system with actual malware (e.g., trojans, ransomware, cryptominers, etc.).

The "services" of these cyber criminals tend to be exorbitantly priced. Criminals prefer difficult-to-trace methods for transferring funds, e.g., cryptocurrencies, pre-paid vouchers, gift cards, or cash hidden in innocent-looking packages and shipped. These techniques are used to minimize the risk of persecution and to ensure that victims would be unable to retrieve their funds.

Scammers can obtain vulnerable data by using various tactics, e.g., tricking victims into disclosing it over the phone, typing it where it supposedly cannot be seen, entering it into phishing websites/files, etc. Alternatively, information-stealing malware can be used for this purpose.

It is pertinent to mention that successfully scammed victims are often targeted repeatedly. In summary, by trusting an email like "Suspicious Login Attempt On Your Windows Computer" – users can experience system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

If you have allowed cyber criminals to access your device remotely – you must first disconnect it from the Internet. Afterwards, uninstall the remote access program that the scammers used, as they may not need your permission to reconnect. Lastly, perform a full system scan with an anti-virus and remove all detected threats.

If you believe that your private data is at risk (e.g., ID card details, credit card numbers, etc.) – immediately contact the appropriate authorities. And if you have provided your account credentials to scammers – change the passwords of all possibly exposed accounts and inform their official support without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Suspicious Login Attempt On Your Windows Computer" spam email
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	Microsoft detected a suspicious log-in attempt to the recipient's computer.
Disguise	Microsoft/Windows
Tech Support Scammer Phone Number	+1 845-319-8336
Symptoms	Unauthorized online purchases, changed online account passwords, identity theft, illegal access of the computer.
Distribution methods	Deceptive emails, rogue online pop-up ads, search engine poisoning techniques, misspelled domains.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Spam campaigns in general

We have inspected numerous spam emails; "Account Will Be Terminated", "TNT AWB", "Care For The Poor And Less Privileged", "Retirement Funds", "IGP Legal email virus", "Mailbox Quota Exceeded", "PayPal - Order Has Been Completed" – are merely some examples of our latest finds.

In addition to facilitating phishing and other scams, deceptive letters are used to distribute malware. These emails can be variously disguised, including as messages from legitimate companies, service providers, organizations, institutions, authorities, and other entities.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam emails proliferate malware by distributing malicious files, which can be attached to or linked inside them. Infectious files can be in various formats, e.g., documents (PDF, Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, etc.), archives (ZIP, RAR, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), JavaScript, and so on.

When such a file is executed, run, or otherwise opened – the infection process is initiated. For example, Microsoft Office documents infect systems by executing malicious macro commands. While virulent OneNote documents need users to click on embedded files/links.

How to avoid installation of malware?

We strongly recommend being vigilant with incoming emails, DMs/PMs, SMSes, and other messages. The attachments or links found in suspicious/irrelevant mail must not be opened, as they can be infectious. It is important to use post-2010 Microsoft Office versions since they have the "Protected View" mode that prevents automatic macro execution.

However, malware is not distributed only through spam mail. Therefore, we advise caution when browsing since fake and malicious online content typically appears ordinary and harmless.

Additionally, all downloads must be performed from official and trustworthy sources. It is just as important to activate and update programs using legitimate functions/tools, as illegal activation ("cracking") tools and third-party updaters may contain malware.

We must stress the importance of having a reputable anti-virus installed and kept updated. This software must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Suspicious Login Attempt On Your Windows Computer" spam email:

Microsoft

Windows Security Center

One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052
+1 845-319-8336

Dear User,
Someone recently tried to use an application to sign-in to your WIndows Computer . We have found suspicious login attempt on your windows computer through an unknown source . When our security officers investigated it was found out that someone from foreign IP Address was trying to make a prohibited connection on your network which can corrupt your windows license key.

 

Please Review the details of the sign-in attempt last time. Last log-in attempt on your I.P (Internet Provider)
Date- February 22, 2023 4:30 AM GMT
Location: Mexico
I.P Address : 169.27.255.255

If you don't recognize this sign-in attempt someone else might be trying to access your Network to collect your sign-in details from Facebook, Instagram, Online Banking & Emails.

 Please contact Microsoft Security Center and report to us immediately Call
Toll Free +1 845-319-8336

Or Substitute you can also visit the website: hxxps://www.microsoft.com/ and fill out the consumer complaint form.

 

Once you call, Please provide your Reference no. AZ9257 in order technicians to assist you better. Our Microsoft certified technician will provide the best resolution. You have received these mandatory emails service annoucement to update you about important changes to your windows Device. Once again thank you for being a valued Customer!

Thank You.
Microsoft Security Support
+1 845-319-8336

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Quick menu:

• What is "Suspicious Login Attempt On Your Windows Computer" spam email?
• Types of malicious emails.
• How to spot a malicious email?
• What to do if you fell for an email scam?

Types of malicious emails:

Phishing Emails

Most commonly, cybercriminals use deceptive emails to trick Internet users into giving away their sensitive private information, for example, login information for various online services, email accounts, or online banking information.

Such attacks are called phishing. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals usually send an email message with some popular service logo (for example, Microsoft, DHL, Amazon, Netflix), create urgency (wrong shipping address, expired password, etc.), and place a link which they hope their potential victims will click on.

After clicking the link presented in such email message, victims are redirected to a fake website that looks identical or extremely similar to the original one. Victims are then asked to enter their password, credit card details, or some other information that gets stolen by cybercriminals.

Emails with Malicious Attachments

Another popular attack vector is email spam with malicious attachments that infect users' computers with malware. Malicious attachments usually carry trojans that are capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

In such attacks, cybercriminals' main goal is to trick their potential victims into opening an infected email attachment. To achieve this goal, email messages usually talk about recently received invoices, faxes, or voice messages.

If a potential victim falls for the lure and opens the attachment, their computers get infected, and cybercriminals can collect a lot of sensitive information.

While it's a more complicated method to steal personal information (spam filters and antivirus programs usually detect such attempts), if successful, cybercriminals can get a much wider array of data and can collect information for a long period of time.

Sextortion Emails

This is a type of phishing. In this case, users receive an email claiming that a cybercriminal could access the webcam of the potential victim and has a video recording of one's masturbation.

To get rid of the video, victims are asked to pay a ransom (usually using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency). Nevertheless, all of these claims are false - users who receive such emails should ignore and delete them.

How to spot a malicious email?

While cyber criminals try to make their lure emails look trustworthy, here are some things that you should look for when trying to spot a phishing email:

• Check the sender's ("from") email address: Hover your mouse over the "from" address and check if it's legitimate. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft, be sure to check if the email address is @microsoft.com and not something suspicious like @m1crosoft.com, @microsfot.com, @account-security-noreply.com, etc.
• Check for generic greetings: If the greeting in the email is "Dear user", "Dear @youremail.com", "Dear valued customer", this should raise suspiciousness. Most commonly, companies call you by your name. Lack of this information could signal a phishing attempt.
• Check the links in the email: Hover your mouse over the link presented in the email, if the link that appears seems suspicious, don't click it. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft and the link in the email shows that it will go to firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0... you shouldn't trust it. It's best not to click any links in the emails but to visit the company website that sent you the email in the first place.
• Don't blindly trust email attachments: Most commonly, legitimate companies will ask you to log in to their website and to view any documents there; if you received an email with an attachment, it's a good idea to scan it with an antivirus application. Infected email attachments are a common attack vector used by cybercriminals.

To minimise the risk of opening phishing and malicious emails we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. 

Example of a spam email:

What to do if you fell for an email scam?

• If you clicked on a link in a phishing email and entered your password - be sure to change your password as soon as possible. Usually, cybercriminals collect stolen credentials and then sell them to other groups that use them for malicious purposes. If you change your password in a timely manner, there's a chance that criminals won't have enough time to do any damage.
• If you entered your credit card information - contact your bank as soon as possible and explain the situation. There's a good chance that you will need to cancel your compromised credit card and get a new one.
• If you see any signs of identity theft - you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission. This institution will collect information about your situation and create a personal recovery plan.
• If you opened a malicious attachment - your computer is probably infected, you should scan it with a reputable antivirus application. For this purpose, we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
• Help other Internet users - report phishing emails to Anti-Phishing Working Group, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, National Fraud Information Center and U.S. Department of Justice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

Spam emails are not personal. They are distributed in massive campaigns – hence, thousands of users receive identical letters.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by a spam email, what should I do?

If you have disclosed your log-in credentials – immediately change the passwords of all potentially compromised accounts and inform their official support. And if you've provided other private information (e.g., ID card details, credit card numbers, etc.) – contact the appropriate authorities without delay.

I have allowed cyber criminals to remotely access my computer, what should I do?

If you have allowed cyber criminals to access your computer remotely – immediately disconnect it from the Internet. Afterwards, remove the remote access software that the criminals used (e.g., TeamViewer, UltraViewer, etc.). Lastly, perform a full system scan with an anti-virus and eliminate all detected threats.

I have read a spam email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?

Devices are infected when malicious files or links are opened; merely reading an email is not enough to trigger malware download/installation processes.

I have downloaded and opened a file attached to a spam email, is my computer infected?

Whether your device was infected might depend on the open file's format. If it was an executable (.exe, .run, etc.) – most likely, yes. However, you might have avoided an infection if it was a document (.doc, .xls, .one, .pdf, etc.). These formats may require additional actions (e.g., enabling macro commands, clicking embedded content, etc.) to start downloading/installing malware.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is designed to detect and remove threats. It is capable of eliminating practically all known malware infections. However, performing a complete system scan is essential – since high-end malicious software tends to hide deep within systems.

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