Don’t be alarmed if you get a notification from Microsoft about a “botnet” named Bamital. Microsoft and Symantec have worked with authorities to seize spamware server grids in NJ and VA, and in an unprecedented move, will be notifying victims of the website-redirection hoax. Read more about it here:
http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/02/massive-search-fraud-botnet-siezed-by-microsoft-and-symantec/
***But remember: Be suspicious of any email that sends links. To check if the information in the email is valid, open up another browser window and type in the name of the site, e.g., paypal.com or microsoft.com, then search the site on the subject of the email. If the email is from a friend, reply to the friend first to see if it is a valid link. This is best practices and your friend should not be offended.***