OT: Virus alert! - Printable Version +- Cuisine at home Forums (https://www.forums.cuisineathome.com) +-- Thread: OT: Virus alert! (/showthread.php?tid=59729) |
OT: Virus alert! - lxxf - 07-05-2008 I got a warning from someone I trust implicitly that there is a new computer virus circulating. It will arrive in the form of an e-mail from your contact list, with the title POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK. Do not open it. There is no patch or known protection from it. Here is what I received: I re-checked this with Snopes, just in case. It is for real, so >>> beware!! >>> >>> Has been checked out at Snopes; is very >>> real. http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp >>> Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus! >>> I checked Snopes (URL above, and it is for real!! >>> >>> Get this E-mail message sent around to your contacts ASAP. >>> PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS! >>> You should be alert during the next few days. >>> >>> Do not open any message with an attachment entitled 'POSTCARD FROM >>> HALLMARK,' regardless of who sent it to you. It is a virus which opens A >>> POSTCARD IMAGE, which 'burns' the whole hard disc C of your computer. >>> This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in >>> his/her contact list. This is the reason why you need to send this >>> e-mail to all your contacts It is better to receive this message 25 >>> times than to receive the virus and open it. >>> >>> If you receive a mail called' POSTCARD,' even though sent to you by a >>> friend, do not open it! Shut down your computer immediately. >>> This is the worst virus announced by CNN. It has been classified by >>> Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever. This virus was discovered >>> by McAfee yesterday, and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus. >>> This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the >>> vital information is kept. >> >> > Sally Re: OT: Virus alert! - labradors - 07-05-2008 Bottom line: always examine your email carefully. If you receive an attachment from someone, take the following steps:
The warning message you received actually contains SOME information about a real virus, but the message, as a WHOLE, is a HOAX. The whole bit about "This is the worst virus announced by CNN, etc." is completely FALSE, as is the bit about the hard disk. The Snopes link given in the "warning," is used to make people THINK that the entire warning is valid, but the warning is actually part of the "Invitation virus" hoax, and Snopes has information about that here, as well as having changed the page to which the "warning's" link points to show the fraudulent text which you duplicated in your message, above. It would probably be best NOT to disseminate this hoax any further, but to send accurate, common-sense suggestions such as I have outlined above. |