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Last Post 09/29/2007 10:04 AM by  CATdawg
Virus Alert
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Tom Toll
Moderator & Life Member
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Posts:1865


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09/27/2007 6:08 PM

    I have verified this through Snopes and Microsoft. It is true, not just a tale.

    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 . 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:

    "You've received a Post Card from a Family member".

    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 Post Card from .." As soon as you get the mail, delete it !! Even if
    you know the sender !!!
    Please pass this mail to all of your friends.


    Forward this to everyone in your address book. I'm sure most people, like myself, would rather receive this notice 25 times than not at All

    Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
    CATdawg
    Member
    Member
    Posts:96


    --
    09/29/2007 10:04 AM

    This notification is only partially true. Viruses are simply not capable of "destroying" hard drives; rather, they are designed to erase, install, or modify data. Granted, this can be very annoying, but your hard drive will remain physically intact. What this particular "virus" really does, if you happen to click on a URL (link) in the email, is install a bit of software that uses your computer to send copies of itself to addresses it finds on your disk, usually for the purpose of spamming or hijacking your browser. Generally, only machines without updated patches are vulnerable.

    There is absolutely no reason to send the above notice to friends and family, thereby inducing the "panic" mentioned (LOL). While there is a threat, it is of a very common type and certainly not "the most destructive ever". All that is needed is common sense and proper habits:

    1) Don't open attachments in email, even from friends and family, unless you're absolutely sure what they contain. Ask people to instead put pictures and text in the body of the email (it's friendlier, anyway).

    2) Don't click on hyperlinks contained in email.

    3) Install the latest updates to your operating system.

    4) Use antivirus protection and a firewall.

    5) Disable javascript in your browser whenever possible (websites like CADO require cookies and javascript to be enabled, however).

    And please don't pass on hyperbolic and misleading notifications. I wouldn't want to receive this claptrap even once, much less 25 times!

     

    Lee Norwood, aka "CATdawg"
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