Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I get an e-mail from Microsoft almost daily saying "Install this patch immediately." Is Microsoft sending me a patch over e-mail? Should I install this patch?

A: No. Microsoft NEVER sends e-mails with security update attachments. You should never use any tool other than Automatic Updates or the Windows Update Web site to install Windows security updates or hotfixes. See Information on Bogus Microsoft Security Bulletin E-mails for an explanation from Microsoft about these hoax e-mail messages.

If you receive a security-related message purporting to be from Microsoft, please review How to Tell if a Microsoft Security-Related Message is Genuine to determine if the message is real or not.