Virus Hoaxes: These are NOT Just Harmless Pranks !
There are a lot of viruses out there. And then there are some viruses that aren't really out there at all. Hoax virus warning messages are more than mere annoyances. After repeatedly becoming alarmed, only to learn that there was no real virus, computer users may get into the habit of ignoring all virus warning messages, leaving them especially vulnerable to the next real, and truly destructive, virus. This is exactly what a virus spreader banks on; so DON'T be caught with your guard down !
Fortunately, we, at Fabian Enterprises like many other dedicated organizations, amongst which one will find NAI.com, tracks virus hoaxes as well as genuine viruses. Next time you receive an urgent virus warning message, check it against the list of known virus hoaxes below. If its a hoax, chances are you'll find it in our database. And if its a real virus, probably you know about it already if you are a subscriber to our FREE Virus Alert service. If you are NOT already a subscriber you can apply for a FREE subscription by sending a blank email to the webmaster. For your convenience past Virus alerts can be viewed here.
NEVER let your guard down! Remember: Never open an email attachment unless you know what it is -- even if it comes from someone you know and trust.
Be aware that the people who create viruses can use known hoaxes to their advantage. A good example is the AOL4FREE hoax.
This began as a hoax warning about a non-existent virus. Once it was known that this was a hoax, somebody began to distribute a destructive trojan horse (a trojan horse differs from a virus in that it does not reproduce itself) in a file named AOL4FREE attached to the original hoax virus warning! The lessons are very clear:
Known Virus Hoax Listing:
A Moment Of Silence Hoax
A Virtual Card For You Hoax
AIDS Hoax
America Online FlashNews Hoax
AOL4FREE Hoax or What? -- see "America Online FlashNews Hoax" above
Baby New Year Hoax
Bud Frogs Screen Saver Hoax
BUDDYLST.ZIP EMAIL VIRUS HOAX
Bugslife Screensaver Hoax
Cat-Colonic hoax
Deeyenda Hoax
Despite Hoax
Disney Hoax
Elfbowl
FAMILY PICTURES
Friends Hoax
Frogs and Fishes Hoax
Funprog hoax
Ghost.exe Hoax
Good Times Hoax
Guts to Say Jesus
Happy New Year Hoax
Intel Special Offer Hoax
Internet Flower hoax
Irina Hoax
jdbgmgr.exe. Hoax
"Join The Crew" E-mail Hoax
LANCHECK Hoax
Lump of Coal
Nokia Screensaver hoax
Penpal Hoax
Perrin.exe
PHANTOM MENACE Hoax
Sandman URL hoax
SPARTAN HORSE Hoax
SULFNBK.EXE HOAX
Valentine Greeting Hoax
Win a Holiday Email Hoax
Windows 98 Warning Hoax
Wobbler Hoax (California)
Work Hoax
Y2KGame
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