Security experts have detected a malicious Trojan downloader being distributed in spoofed email messages claiming to be from Microsoft.

The email appears to come from support@microsoft.com, and offers a link to download Release Candidate 1 of Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.

Clicking on the link provided in the bogus email launches a maliciously crafted web site that looks very similar to a legitimate Microsoft page.

However, security firm SurfControl warned that the website installs a Trojan via a browser exploit targeted at Internet Explorer and effectively creates a backdoor on infected systems.

“This threat takes advantage of the release of Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 by Microsoft last week,” SurfControl warned.

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