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| News > E-Mail Cloggers and Virus Hoaxes | ||
| Issued - 3/4/2004 | ||
| While we have sent alerts in the last number of days on actual viruses, another type to watch for are e-mail cloggers and virus hoaxes. Mailers of these have a tendency to be extra vigilant around April Fools day which is just around the corner and after a large infestation of new viruses have occurred. E-Mail Cloggers: E-mail cloggers are prank e-mails containing a false warning and are intended for forwarding around the globe. The originator seems to take some satisfaction in the waste this causes and then times how long it takes for the message to get back to him or her. Many such e-mails claim that if you forward it on to a certain number of people you will get a gift certificate from some well known company - Microsoft, Applebees and Target Stores are commonly named. An example of an e-mail clogger which will undoubtedly surface around tax time and disrupt tax returns is as follows: WARNING Nobody still knows if it's true, but it's worthwhile to protect yourself. Don't send your tax return by the Internet (for the time being). A new virus has been unleashed through the Internet to capture your tax return. The author created this virus to intercept all files using the extensions generated by the Federal Revenue program. If there is a rebate, the virus changes the current account indicated by the victim, changing it to the author's account. After that the changed file goes to the Federal Revenue Database. The victim receives the usual return- receipt, because the tax return doesn't fail to be delivered. There is a small increase in time of shipping, necessary because of the changed account information, which is not apparent to the person waiting for the tax return, therefore the recipient of the rebate assumes that it is due to a high volume of traffic or problems with the telephone line, etc. ...all problems that we are accustomed to, being on the Internet. The new virus still informs its author about the rebates that he managed to capture, including the values that he'll pocket. Send this e-mail to all your friends. The E-Mail Virus Hoax: Some e-mail hoaxes can have detrimental effects. The hoax will advise you to look for a file in your computer system and if found, you have a specific virus and the file should be eliminated immediately. These files are actual operating system files that are needed to run your computer. Here is an example of a common e-mail virus hoax. While elimination of this particular file would only hinder those that develop programs in Java, other hoaxes ask the recipient to delete files integral to the operating system. Dear Sirs: It is possible that a VIRUS could be sent to you because you were registered in our Outlook's directory. This VIRUS sends itself to all addresses registered in your Outlook's Address Book (happens also with other e-mailing programs). If you find it please resend this email to all your email addresses. How to erase it: This virus is not found neither by McAfee, Norton, or any other AntiVirus programs.
BYE, AND SHAME ON THE VIRUS DEVELOPERS! THEY HURT ALL BUSINESS, PEOPLE, AND OTHERS. The simple protection here is not to follow any instructions amplified by someone you do not know or trust. If you are uncertain, about any e-mail, please feel free to contact us. |
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