Re: FBI tells the public to call their ISP for help

[Kevin Day <toasty () dragondata com>]

On Jun 15, 2007, at 3:06 PM, Florian Weimer wrote:

> Most users don't buy their software from Microsoft, either.  It's
> preinstalled on their PC, and Microsoft disclaims any support.


That is mostly true, except in the case of security issues - which is  
what I believe this thread is somehow still talking about.

Microsoft gives no-charge phone support to all Windows users,  
regardless of where you received your license, if it's a security  
related problem. Viruses, spyware, intrusions, etc. Call 1-866- 
PCSAFETY in the US/Canada, or you can click at link at http:// 
support.microsoft.com/security to get information for other countries.

I've never tried it, but I've heard that they've been surprisingly  
helpful, even in cases where it was obviously not Microsoft's fault 
(directly, anyway). I'm not 100% positive that their policy  
explicitly allows OEM license holders to use that number, but from  
those I've talked to that have used it - they don't ask for any  
license information at all. After they've verified it fits their  
definition of a security problem, you're handed over to a tech to  
help you clean it up.

-- Kevin