Virus Warnings
Summary: Warnings of powerful viruses that cause untold damage and cannot be stopped.
Circulation: 1999
Status: Hoax
The Debunking
New Email Virus Warning Generator. Want to start a panic? Want to play a nasty prank on your friends? Use the new Email Virus Warning Generator © with ease! It's simple! Just fill in the blanks and email the 'warning' to all of your friends. They'll be amazed, annoyed and perturbed. All because of you!
Quick... forward this to everyone in your address book! If you get a virus by the name of {insert virus name here}, do not open it because it will {insert dire consequenses here}. If you receive the email, delete the following files: {insert real Microsoft Windows file names}. If you are a Mac user, delete your entire system folder because it's corrupted.
It's true! I saw it on {insert respectable news sources here}. Even {insert several anti-virus vendors here} said the virus cannot be stopped.
FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK NOW, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!!!
Does this sound comical? Does it sound far-fetched? It's really not too far from the truth. Not the content of the 'warnings' - the fact that they exist. There are some out there that seem to think that warning you of fake or nonexistent viruses is funny. Did you fall for this one? How gullible are you?
Yet innocent, well-meaning people forward these things over and over. Some of these virus warnings have been circulating since the late 90's. some reach circulation rivaling legitimate stories. Some people use the rationale "I'd rather receive this 25 times than not at all." I've actually seen an email that had that particular tag incorporated in the hoax so as to shame people into forwarding it.
Get a load of "Weird Al" Yankovic's video about Virus Alerts:
Let's do some detective work and debunk this hoax.
- The Source:
These emails claim authority, ranging from news stations to the Oprah show to quotes from anti-virus vendors and even Microsoft.
The Truth: Any LEGITIMATE virus warning will come from Norton or McAfee directly in the form of program updates, not from people passing around dire warnings with ALL CAPS. - The Research:
The emails encourage you to forward without hesitation. Do it now without thinking!! Tell everyone about it and cause a panic.
The Truth: A little research will tell you whether or not a warning is true. Take the extra two minutes to do a search online of the supposed virus name. Chances are, you'll get a dozen pages telling you the 'virus' warning is bogus. - The Origins:
Most of these virus warnings are several years old. Who started it and when did it start?
The Truth: When you get a warning, look through the history of the email and see how long the 'warning' has been circulating. I'd be willing to bet that by the time you get it, it's months or years old. It's kinda silly to believe that a 'virus' warning of a month old virus would have stumped Norton, McAfee or any of the other anti-virus people for that long.
No, these warnings are nothing but clutter in the inbox and if you should get one of these dire warnings, the best advice I can give you is this:
- First and foremost, keep your antivirus program up to date!
- Don't open files or emails from people you don't know.
- Do not forward these emails under any circumstances!
- Do some research and see if the virus is real.
- Point your friend to this page. The URL for this page is
If you need help, contact me and I will be more than happy to inform you of the truth or tell your friend that they lied to you.
Update: I just had a look at Symantec's Threat Explorer page. Although I am not a fan of Norton antivirus programs, I think you'll enjoy this if you are a geek. This neat invention tells you at a glance if there is a virus or other type of malware that may be active at the moment. It also lists all real viruses and threats to your computer as well as security vulnerabilities in Windows.
Original Text:
Subject: 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 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.
I'm sure most people, like myself, would rather receive this notice 25 times than not at all.
Links
The best site for debunking hoaxes: Snopes.com
Hoaxbusters homepage
Hoax-Slayer homepage
Anti-virus vendor Symantec
Symantec's Active Threat Explorer - realtime virus threat page
Antivirus vendor McAfee