The Redmont-based software giant is reported to have initiated 129 lawsuits in Europe and the Middle East in its effort to help law enforcement curb phishing. That’s very good of Microsoft, playing a very nobel role as a corporate citizen. For those who are not yet aware, Microsoft had launched a Global Phishing Enforcement Initiative in March, as part of its effort to combat phishing, an online trick that has mushroomed over the last few years, with the number of attempts to dupe citizens into handing over their bank account details almost doubling in the first half of 2006 to 157,000, according to a recent report from security software vendor Symantec.
On another front, the latest IE7 browser by Microsoft also incorporates an anti-phishing feature which gives out warning to users of a potential phishing website. But the anti-phishing feature has contributed to a somewhat negative effect when it wrongly flags legitimate websites as suspected phising sites. Reports have been submitted by the website owners to Microsoft but I wonder if there were responses by Microsoft on the false alarms. I was just wondering, would Microsoft be liable for phishing false alarms? Anyone want to test the water?
While fighting phishing scam is great, the IE7 anti-phishing tool is not smart enough (yet?) to tell which ones are real, which ones are not.
I'm one of those victims of the false alarm, and I'm not happy at all that it has affected my business in a way. One of my customers has asked me question about the phishing statement that he saw on the page, and I'm not sure how many more potential clients I've lost due to this false warning alone.
Open IE7 and just look at http://www.RahsiaMLM.com and you'll see the phishing statement in your browser. (still there as of today).
I sent a report to Microsoft by clicking "Report The Website" but until now, I've no clue what has happened to my cry for help.
Zamri Nanyan
Like Zamri my website is a victim of this false reporting, and it is very widespread, in fact discussions for a class action suit against Microsft is underway. This is terrible for legitimate websites, to be labelled as phishing, it is like calling an honest businessman or blogger a criminal.
This software is junk and imperfect to the point of uselessness. Not only that, Microsofts' "report a phishing site" reminds me of reporting Communists during the McCarthy, or witches at Salem, in that they must not check for themselves.
I am really upset over seeing this new message when someone calls up my website. There is no way I can sell anything like this. I am ready and willing to do something about it legally against Microsoft unless they have it repaired in the next few hours.
I should not have to prove I am a legitimate website …. especially when I created the site through Microsoft's system.
This is just crazy!
Let me tell you what I figured out folks. I had recently revised my home page to include a box that asked for contact info: Name, address, email.
When I removed that box from the home page, the phishing filter stopped.
Good luck everyone. What will Microsoft think of next?
I think Microsoft is doing a great job to eliminate the phishing message in your browser, and they act immediately and remove the pop-up, I have to answer 100+ questions to prrof this is a very legitimate business and its a REALTOR website!!!!! but when you have 300+ webpages and you work on one page and find out there's phishing on it you wonder if you have to visit all your webpages to find out if any is reported wrongly….I still have Microsoft email they have asked me to reply to the message if the pup-up still there…but its not there its on other wepage…and I sent them anoth4er reply today and asked them…do I have to visit all my 300+ webpages to find out if they are marked with phishing…..I'm waiting for an answer…
99.9999999999999999999% of the world websites may ask for information and that is part of doing business on the internet….
and wondering if you can take Microsoft to the Court and let them provide the name of the people who reported the site or the page! Microsoft are too big to sue and they can always win even at fault, they can afford the cost of attorneys!
As for the person who suggested to eliminate contact us form or other tools to make a sale or provide a service…that is not very good idea…the Government ask, the employer ask…and the pizza man ask for your identity…are we going to reprot every one asking for your ID….
Microsoft is too big and have the ability to correct their system or can hire more people to visit your website and find out if its really phishing, instead they want to question you and never question the person who report you! that is part of doing business on-line and the stronger remain! beware of your copetitors they maybe the ones who is reporting you, I think!
good luck with the class action, Microsoft can win as always!