Resetting Hotmail password

[dot.hawkes]

Can anyone give me a reason for me getting two emails in the past 2 days asking me to conirm that i want to reset my hoymail password for windows live messenger and msn? I haven't asked to change it, couls someone be trying to access my addy?

[daffy654]

Do the emails look like they are genuine? It could either be someone has tried to access your account and has asked microsoft to change the password,or it could be a phishing email....like the ones that you get supposedly from banks asking you to confirm your PIN number etc. Don't reset it via the email whatever you do.

[squarebear]

They are "phishing" emails trying to get personal information from you. Delete them and any further ones that come in.

[dot.hawkes]

hi guys, cheers for that, this is the email content, it mentions this phishing thing, what on earth is that?

Hello, [email protected]:
We received your request to reset your Windows Live password. To confirm your request and reset your password, follow the instructions below. Confirming your request helps prevent unauthorized access to your account. If you didn't request that your password be reset, please follow the instructions below to cancel your request. CONFIRM REQUEST AND RESET PASSWORD 1. Copy the following web address: https://accountservices.: Because fraudulent ("phishing") e-mail often uses misleading links, Microsoft recommends that you do not click links in e-mail, but instead copy and paste them into your browsers, as described above. 2. Open your web browser, paste the link in the address bar, and then press ENTER. 3. Follow the instructions on the web page that opens. CANCEL PASSWORD RESET 1. Copy the following web address. https://accountservices.msn.com/EmailPage. IMPORTANT: Because fraudulent ("phishing") e-mail often uses misleading links, Microsoft recommends that you do not click links in e-mail, but instead copy and paste them into your browsers, as described above. 2. Open your web browser, paste the link in the address bar, and then press ENTER. 3. Follow the instructions on the web page that opens. OTHER INFORMATION Windows Live is committed to protecting your privacy. We encourage you to review our privacy statement Privacy Statement at http://g.msn.com/0PR_/enus. For more information, go to the Windows Live Account site at https://account.live.com. Thank you, Microsoft Customer Support NOTE: Please do not reply to this message, which was sent from an unmonitored e-mail address. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered.

(I have deleted the actual addy they sent incase some smart alec comedian decides they can use it

[squarebear]

"phishing" emails are those which "fish" for personal information like bank details. They usually come in the form of "please confirm your bank account details as we are checking our system" or "I am a Nigerian prince who wants to give you $20billion".

The people who set up these phoney websites then use your information to empty your bank account.

One school of thought is to reply to these mails and put fake details in, as it makes it harder for the phishers to separate the wheat from the chaff thus protecting the people that actually reply to these thins.