Microsoft recently sent out emails warning some customers about a data breach, but there’s a big problem: The emails looked like spam. It’s caused a bit of confusion and concern.
So, what happened?
Microsoft didn’t follow their usual data breach process. Instead of using their secure customer portal, they emailed admins directly. Unfortunately, these emails often end up in spam folders. Even worse, admin accounts should be secure and not used for regular email communications.
Oh, and the emails contained a “secure link” that leads to a domain not immediately recognizable as Microsoft’s, which caused even more alarm. Many people submitted the link to urlscan.io, a service that checks if a website is safe, to verify its legitimacy.
You might be wondering how you can tell if an email like this is spam or legitimate.
First, look at the sender’s email address and see if it matches what you’d expect from Microsoft. Check for grammar mistakes or unusual formatting, which are common in spam. Be cautious of any links – you can hover over them without clicking to see where they lead. If they don’t look right, don’t click.
If you’re still unsure, you can contact Microsoft support directly through their official website, or my team will be happy to help. It’s better to be safe and verify the email than to risk a potential scam.
Have you seen one of these emails? And did you think it looked suspicious?