Microsoft is NOT to blame !
Make absolutely sure that Windows is set to automaticaly download updates and, at least, inform you when any updates are available to be installed. For most users, it's beter to set as Automaticaly download AND install updates and "All users can install Microsoft updates". That way, even if it's the Guess account that is used, critical and important updated can be applyed.
That "Add more security" screen is NOT from Microsoft.
It's often displayed by some rogue, fraudulent, application that pretend to be a security solution.
It may also come from some side, or parasitic, install also known as foistwares.
When installing ANYTHING at all, even paid for applications, always use custom install and carefully read every screen, pages and steps. ALWAYS say NO to or unsellect any proposed addons, toolbars, home page change, recommended application and accessory, ...
Your account may have been hacked.
If that's the case, ask for a password reset. Reset your password and IMMEDIATELY change all your informations that can be used to reset your password and your references. Make absolutely sure that any phone number that may appear is realy your's, any alternate e-mail addresses are your's and not nomeone's else. REMOVE any address or phone number that you don't immediately recognise.
CHANGE any so called "secret question" answer. An answer that have no relation with the question is prety good, like: "Your mother's maiden name?" with "Onolulu" or "Bengladesh" as the answer.
Next, change your passwords EVERYWHERE, especialy if you ever reuse user name-password combinations.
If anybody got access to your e-mail account, that person can easily access any informations it contain and can try using your user name and password on many sites and may get access to your bank account, paypal or Amazon account and many other.
You may have some malware that is preventing from accessing your account, or is redirecting you to some fraudulent site.
Many malwares poison your hosts files. It's located in the /windows/system32/drivers/etc/ folder. You need administrative right to edit that extentionless text file. Open Notepad as Administrator and open the hosts file. You can safely delete most of it's content. You MUST delete any line containing the URL for Microsoft and any trusted security related sites.
Can you still access the following sites? :
www.microsoft.com
free.avg.com or www.avg.com
www.avast.com
www.avira.com
www.malwarebytes.org
If you can't, YOUR COMPUTER IS INFECTED.
From another computer, go to www.malwarebytes.org and get the standalone version and burn it on a CD-R or write it to an USB thumb drive.
BOOT your computer from that CD or USB thumb drive and let Malwarebytes do a boot time scan. As the OS is not loaded and running at that time, no file are in use. This make it easier to remove malicious files.
After that, get, install and run some other avtivirus from the list above.
You may install more than one, but be sure to only have one loaded and running at any given time. The others should be used to perform "manual", or "on demand" scans.
Electro, August 2014
