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On Tue Mar 14 9:58 , Neil Williams <linux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>"Jumping" on virus warning emails is naive - until you know WHO sent the
>original warning, IF the warning is genuine and IF the From: address is real.
I've lost count of how many times I've had users panic about some hoax, or get
asked about 'the latest virus'. I've even fallen for it myself, a few years back,
I think I was caught up about all that 'Good Times' virus hoax. Since then when I
get something like that I check http://www.hoaxkill.com or
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org and if I know who the sender is (say a friend or
relative) I'll send them a quick e-mail back with a link to either information
about the hoax on an Anti-virus site (like McAfee, Trend etc) or either of the
above sites.
I was reading up on hoaxes a while ago and found this at
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBHoaxInfo.html#history
There was a humourous reply to that...
Date: 11-31-88 (24:60) Number: 32769
To: ALL Refer#: NONE
From: ROBERT MORRIS III Read: (N/A)
Subj: VIRUS ALERT Status: PUBLIC MESSAGE
Warning: There's a new virus on the loose that's worse than
anything I've seen before! It gets in through the power line,
riding on the powerline 60 Hz subcarrier. It works by changing the
serial port pinouts, and by reversing the direction one's disks
spin. Over 300,000 systems have been hit by it here in Murphy,
West Dakota alone! And that's just in the last 12 minutes.
It attacks DOS, Unix, TOPS-20, Apple-II, VMS, MVS, Multics, Mac,
RSX-11, ITS, TRS-80, and VHS systems.
To prevent the spresd of the worm:
1) Don't use the powerline.
2) Don't use batteries either, since there are rumors that this
virus has invaded most major battery plants and is infecting the
positive poles of the batteries. (You might try hooking up just
the negative pole.)
3) Don't upload or download files.
4) Don't store files on floppy disks or hard disks.
5) Don't read messages. Not even this one!
6) Don't use serial ports, modems, or phone lines.
7) Don't use keyboards, screens, or printers.
8) Don't use switches, CPUs, memories, microprocessors, or
mainframes.
9) Don't use electric lights, electric or gas heat or
airconditioning, running water, writing, fire, clothing or the
wheel.
I'm sure if we are all careful to follow these 9 easy steps, this
virus can be eradicated, and the precious electronic flui9ds of
our computers can be kept pure.
---RTM III
And one last one which I can just see a typical Windows user doing... The Irish
Virus Hoax...
Greetings, You have just received the "IRISH VIRUS". As we don't have any
programming experience, this Virus works on the honour system. Please delete all
the files on your hard drive manually and forward this Virus to everyone on your
mailing list. Thank you for your cooperation.
Rob
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