Are you around Brendan - Help please

[mikewilkes]

Have you heard anything about this one??

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 !!!

What is Sector Zero or does my simple brain really not want to know???

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Mike,

Sorry, its complete rubbish!

Sector zero is, I believe, more accurately referred to as the boot sector (i've never heard it referred to as sector zero?).... which the doc correctly identifies as a vulnerability... but deleting it isn't easy..... and as far as I can tell from quick scan of industry sites, there hasn't been any unusual problems in New York, or indeed anywhere else in the last 24 hours....

As an aside..... the advice remains sound...... never open unexpected E-mails... and best really to avoid opening this type even when from friends..... switch off preview pane in Outlook Express as this automatically opens the E-Mail, and keep your virus software up to date (you have of course got anti virus software installed haven't you.....)

 

[boatone]

Another HOAX....

 

[BrendanS]

Yes, 100% hoax

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/virtual.card.for.you.html

 

[mikewilkes]

Thanks for that Niel. Dont be sorry always grateful for news like that.

I am unhappy opening attachments even when I know the person they come from. As for unkowns I think long and hard before opening the bare e-mail.

The other day I put something on Topcats web page and later got an e-mail from Julian with a title of Thank You. It took a while before I realised who it was then I opened it!!!