1. Why (Why is it a phishing/scam mail?)
2. What (What are the impacts of responding with details)

• Any authentic company would never ever ask for password in the mail. Usually they would have a password expiry and password complexity policies to ensure that you change your password from time to time. However, such companies may send you only a request to keep changing the password on the company's website/application from time to time to increase user awareness and sensitivity towards online security.
• Companies like Hotmail (Microsoft), Yahoo etc. simply disable or deactivate the unused account and never randomly select accounts and send mail.
• In worse case even if a mail is to come it wont come on the same email-id. It would come on the alternate email id.

• Users usually have tendency to keep same password across multiple applications for mere sake of convenience or due to inconvenience of memorizing multiple passwords.
• Once let say you have responded to this mail with the password. The malicious hacker/cracker at other end has somehow already collected information about your bank account or trading accounts. In such a case he would have a strong foundation to crack into your bank account or trading account and execute electronic theft of your hard earned money.
• The malicious user on the internet could use your account to execute terrorist activities which are the new threats of 20th century.
• The malicious user could impersonate you when communicating with someone you know which could cause to personal, social or even criminal damage to you.

Dear Account Owner

We are having congestion due to the anonymous registration of free Windows Live Account therefore we are shutting down some Windows Live Account.Your account is among those to be deleted,we are sending you this email to enable you re-confirm your account details in order to commence immediate upgrade of your account from being deleted. If you have the interest of proceeding your account with us kindly re-confirm your account by filling the space below after clicking the reply button.

* Username: ........................................

* Password: .........................................

* Date of Birth: .....................................

* Country Or Territory: ..........................

After following the instructions in the sheet, your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. Thanks for your attention to this request. We apologize for any inconveniences.

Microsoft,

Windows Live Account Services

Hotmail is part of Windows Live.

* This assumes a reasonable growth rate.

Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, please read our online Privacy Statement.

For more information or for general questions regarding your e-mail account, please visit Windows Live Hotmail Help.

Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA © 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

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