[yattongal]

Have used Windows XP for many years (but probably need to upgrade!)and currently use BT Yahoo for email. Yesterday an Outlook icon mysteriously appeared on my desktop and I have no idea where it has come from. When I clicked on it, as message came up saying that I needed to activiate XP and I had to send my location to Microsoft via a text box (or something like that). Has this happened to anyone else - is it genuine, if so why would the icon suddenly appear as I don't actually use Outlook?! Thanks for any help/advice you can provide.

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Sounds like malware. Start here.

[skifxr]

Sounds like malware. Start here.

[Ztruker]

Did you recently apply any Microsoft Updates, especially those that apply to MS Office? I've seen this happen when that is done.

Probably not malware but definitely best to check just in case as skifxr suggested.

[yattongal]

Microsoft did install 31 updates very recently and so you're probably right. However, since the Outlook icon appeared, my PC has been deathly slow to fully boot up which is a bit worrying (although it is VERY old and I think the hard disk is on it's last legs!). I will check for malware anyway as a precaution. Many thanks to you both for you advice. RH