virus hoaxes, p.s.

[Guest guest]

I don't want to sound too peeved, it's an easy mistake to make, but

you always want to check this stuff first. The message you send,

people down the line from you will send...and send...and send...and

send...and send...and send...and send...and send...and send...

 

I have no idea why people dream these things up for no better end than

shortening other peoples' lives, but I don't know why people write the

real viri either.

 

Just because something sounds technical and authoritative is no

guarantee it is, -- and when you get something on e-mail, all the more

reason to be suspicious ;-)

 

It's true you should never open an e-mail attachment unless you either

trust or expect it, since a friend's infected machine will mail to you

without the friend even knowing it was sent. It can even masquerade

as coming from somebody's account other than the one that sent it.

 

But it's still always good to check it out first. Snopes is usually a

good start, and do save a copy of the explanation I gave for when

somebody sends the next one. Trust me, you'll get the chance again.

 

 

, " radcsusa " <radcsusa@n...>

wrote:

> This is NOT a virus, it is a HOAX.

>

> Virus hoaxes are like viruses minus payload, they just deliver it to

> your head instead. People start them to watch the rest of the

> country, at least those with minimal savvy regarding computers, run

> around like chicken little hitting " send " to every name they know.

>

> NEVER forward things like this without checking them out on snopes or

> somewhere similar first. Good dead giveaway clues include things like

> block caps and triple exclamation points, and disclaimers like " I just

> saw it on CNN " or " I swear to God this is true! " And how could it be

> bogus, right? You just got it from a friend off the Net. When in

> doubt, do NOT send it out.

>

> You can read all about this particular e-mail prank at

> http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/card.htm

>

> It's EQUALLY important to take the responsibility of instructing back

> those who sent this to you. These are an enormous waste of human

> energy and time, and people need to finally get wise. Copy the

> explanation text of what I've just explained here, send it back to

> everyone who sent it to YOU, -- and instruct them to do the same.

>

> In partnership for a cleaner Net.

>

>

> , Taharka <taharka@w...> wrote:

> > Not sure how true this is but it was fowarded to me.

> >

> > FW: WORST VIRUS EVER ---CNN ANNOUNCED

> > Wed, 31 Mar 2004 13:24:02 -0700

> > MIME-Version: 1.0

> > Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

> > boundary= " ----=_NextPart_000_000B_01C41723.6F6BB380 "

> > X-Priority: 3 (Normal)

> > X-MSMail-Priority: Normal

> > X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.4510

> > Importance: Normal

> > X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106

> > Content-Length: 2580

> >

> >

> >

> > WORST VIRUS EVER ---CNN ANNOUNCED

> > >

> > > PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST !!

> > > A new virus has just been discovered that has been

> classified by Microsoft as the most destructive ever This virus was

> discovered yesterday afternoon by McAfee and no vaccine has yet !

> been developed. This virus simply destroys Sector Zero from the hard

> disk, where vital information for its functioning are stored.

> > >

> > > This virus acts in the following manner:

> > > It sends itself automatically to all contacts on your list

> with the title " A Card for You " .

> > >

> > > As soon as the supposed virtual card is opened the

> computer freezes so that the user has to reboot. When the ctrl+alt+del

> keys or the reset button are pressed, the virus destroys Sector

> Zero, thus permanently destroying the hard disk. Yesterday in just a

> few hours this virus caused panic in New York, according to news

> broadcast by CNN. This alert was received by an employee of

> Microsoft itself.

> > >

> > > So don't open any mails with subject: " A Virtual Card for

> You. " As soon as you get the mail, delete it!! Even if you know the

> sender !!!

> > >

> > > Please pass this mail to all of your friends.

> > >

> > > Forward this to everyone in your address book I'm sure most

> people, like myself, would rather receive this notice 25 times than

> not at all.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

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> >

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> >

> >