Thread: Virus - According to SNOPES, this is not a hoax

This one actually appears to be real.



-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- Subject: BAD Virus ---CNN announced -- Snopes confirms as real. According to SNOPES, this is not a hoax. Here is a link to the snopes page: http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp

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 . 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: "You've received a Post Card from a Family member". 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 Post Card from ...." 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 would rather receive this notice 25 times than not at ALL!!!

PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST!!

as the most destructive ever.

Brian, these chain emails/chain virus emails don't need addtional help spreading.

Please try to use discretion with these bogus emails.

Olympic Torch Invitation Virus Hoax

Originally Posted by Dom D'Agostino

Brian, these chain emails/chain virus emails don't need additional help spreading.

Please try to use discretion with these bogus emails.

Olympic Torch Invitation Virus Hoax

Hi Dom,

I agree with you and hate the e-mail forwards of bogus viruses as well.

I never believe the "As seen on CNN" or "I checked and this is real" either.

I always check it myself and 99% of the time I find they are bogus e-mails.

However, I have been receiving the "PostCard e-mails" and I did check this on Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp ) and from what I can tell (if Snopes is correct) this is real.

The link that you provided " Olympic Torch Invitation Virus Hoax " is not the PostCard Virus that is being referenced and you're right, that one is a hoax.

If you do find that the PostCard Virus is bogus please let me know because I would not want to spread that around.

Thanks!

Ok, this one is tough to explain so I hope you guys can follow me. What it looks like we have is a hoax (the e-mail message) that has been modifed to make reference to a similar real greeting card virus (the link to snopes in the e-mail message).

The link in the e-mail points to a real virus alert:

Urban Legends Reference Pages: 'Postcard from a Family Member' virus

I received this virus from numerous spam e-mails during the last couple of months. My antivirus caught it before it could do any damage.

The hoax is:

Urban Legends Reference Pages: A [Virtual] Card for You

The text of the hoax e-mail message is remarkably similar to the text at the top of this post. Only, it's been altered to include a link to a real virus as a way to get everyone to "SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST!!" (a dead giveaway that you are usually dealing with a hoax).

The email is a hoax

"A Card for You", "Virtual Card For You", or "Postcard" Virus Warning-Fiction!

I'm going to fight to the death because I don't want to be accused of spreading a hoax e-mail

This is directly off the McAffe site:

W32/Zhelatin.gen!eml

How's this for timely?

I just received this e-mail (Note: I have "x" the link so no one would click on it.)

************************

Subject: -- Spam --Greeting ecard
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:37:31 -0400
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180
X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.0.6 (2005-12-07) on
as.district37ama.org
X-Spam-Level: *****
X-Spam-Status: No, score=5.5 required=7.0 tests=HELO_DYNAMIC_IPADDR,
NORMAL_HTTP_TO_IP,NO_REAL_NAME,RCVD_IN_XBL autolearn=no version=3.0.6

Neighbour(lockett @ xxxxx.org) has created Greeting ecard for you at lavacards.com.

To see your custom Greeting ecard, simply click on the following Internet address (if your mail program doesn't support this feature you will need to COPY and PASTE the address into your browser's address box):

http:// xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx