Virus Hoax

[byron]

Once again it is virus time. If you receive a message warning you of a virus called SULFNBK.EXE and instructions how to find and delete it. IGNORE IT. It is a hoax, the file is a Windows one and should be there.

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[coliholic]

Thanks byron. we got sent it last week by a "mate" who reckons he knows a bit about puters and my son who works in tech support for a computer company sent him this reply 'cos said "mate" had already deleted the files as recommnded in the message and was shi**ing himself.

"It doesn't make ta lot of difference if you delete that file. All that file does is translates long file names i.e. (more than 8 characters) into short names (less than 8 characters) for dos applications/computers. It is only required if you use your PC on a network with old DOS based machines."

So it's a sort of Irsh virus reeally telling you to delete your own files. Excellent wind up by someone and of course the AV software won't pick it up.

However if anyone's already done it, don't panic too much just be aware in future not to take too much noticce of some of these virus warnings unless they come from a reputable (Byron approved) source..

 

[Guest]

You may have to be slightly careful

This is the official line from the lot I used to work for.

NAME: Sulfnbk.exe virus hoax
ALIAS: Long File Name Backup utility virus hoax

In April-May 2001 there appeared a hoax message concerning a new virus that was reportedly discovered in Windows' Long File Name Backup utility SULFNBK.EXE. We checked several versions of this utility from Windows installations and found no infection in it.

The icon of the original Sulfnbk.exe file looks like that:

(imbede image cannot be dispalyed here, goto http://www.f-secure.com/hoaxes/sulfnbk.shtml for full info)

However, some e-mail worms (for example, Magistr) might sometimes send an infected SULFNBK.EXE in an e-mail attachment.

Bottom line: if you get SULFNBK.EXE in an e-mail attachment, it's probably a virus. If you find it from your Windows directory, it's probably not.

What to do if you already found SULFNBK.EXE from your Windows\system directory and deleted it? Not to worry, most users never need this tool. But if you run into problems with long filenames and start to see things like "FILENA~1.TXT" in your Windows Start Menu, you might need the tool. In that case, follow these Microsoft instructions to restore it:

For the full report go to:
http://www.f-secure.com/hoaxes/sulfnbk.shtml

Tim Eades
http://www.btinternet.com/~tim.eades/<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by TimE on Thu Jan 10 22:20:12 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[chippie]

Have you seen the hoax that comes as an attachment that 'dissolves' your screen when you open it? ,cant remember the name though.

 

[Col]

I had a hoax, supposedly a gift from coca cola, when you clicked the icon,
the cd-rom drawer popped open !!

 

[byron]

That wasn't a hoax that was an "amicable virus" I used to send that out years ago when CDs first came out on PCs, it was known as a free drinks tray. There were lots of them in those days sadly now a days the real virii have ruined the fun ones.

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[Piers]

Being "in the business", might I suggest that if anyone has a virus warning sent to them, that they check the following page on our web-site? It has up to the moment info, and may be of use.

http://www.dupre.co.uk/fsindinf4.htm

This gives info on Current Virus Warnings (almost to the very minute they are first detected), as well as the numerous Hoax Warnings that exist, as well as any necessary links.

Piers du Pre
MBM Cruising Club enthusiast
www.dupre.co.uk

 

[bernard_foster]

The best worms out there are not bits of code, but, messages like the one you recieved, the theory is, that you will pass it to everyone you know, and so on, same effect as a worm, only you do the work instead of the programmer. I suggest you ignore these messages and look at www.nai.com or the link that the first reply to your posting suggested, these are much more accurate.