Whatever you do, do not touch the latest version of Internet Explorer 7.0 when the download is advertised via unsolicited emails. According to security company Lavasoft, a wave of spammed emails is inciting recipients with the perspective of installing the latest release of IE7. This is, of course, not the case. First off, Microsoft has not released a new version of IE7, and is not planning to do so, as it is currently focusing its resources on building Internet Explorer 8, whose second Beta is planned for the end of this month.

"Look out for email messages that urges users to download the latest version of Internet Explorer 7.0. The email seems to be sent from admin@microsoft.com in order to make it look legitimate. The download link 'Download the latest version Internet Explorer 7.0' points to a [malicious] URL," revealed LS Pekka, Lavasoft Research. "Downloading this malware file to the system results in for example additional downloads of malware onto the infected system, in this case the Rogue application Antivirus XP 2008."

The first clue that the email message is malicious in nature is the link offered for download. The URL points directly to an .EXE file containing the rogue antivirus. The address is generic, and obviously has no connection whatsoever with the Redmond company, or Microsoft.com. As any rogue security solution, Antivirus XP 2008 is no antivirus. It is, in fact, nothing more than a way to scare users into coughing up money to get rid of non-existent threats.

"Antivirus XP 2008, and other Rogue applications generates exaggerated threat reports on the compromised computer trying to make the user believe that the system is heavily infected and then asking the user to purchase a registered version of the Rogue application to remove the reported threats as the removal function is deactivated in the unregistered version of the Rouge," Pekka added.

The real Internet Explorer 7 is available for download via this link.

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 can be downloaded from here.