The Worst Virus Ever (CNN) Hoax

This is yet another silly virus warning hoax in the long line of virus hoaxes started by the The "Good Times" virus hoax. There are many hoaxes like this that warn you to avoid some email and then ask you to pass on the warning. Whenever you see something in this pattern you can assume this is a hoax. Please, please, NEVER forward any email that makes requests (as this one does) to send the email to everyone; such an email will never stop circulating.

This version is currently the most common form of this hoax:

       WORST EVER VIRUS (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 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 Virtual 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. Please pass this mail to all of your
       friends.

       Forward this to everyone in your address book.

       I would rather receive this 25 times than not at all.
       Also: Intel announced that a new and very destructive
       virus was discovered recently.

       If you receive an email called "An Internet Flower
       For You," do not open it. Delete it right away! This
       virus removes all dynamic link libraries (.dll files)
       from your computer. Your computer will not be able to
       boot up!!

Further red-flags that the above is a hoax are the statements in the hoax about CNN, McAfee, and Microsoft that attempt to appeal to authority but provide no substantiation (such as an URL on the respective company's websites).

There are a number of variations of the above hoax (the sections on the 'Internet flower' and 'Virtual Card' may not both be present or replaced with some other supposed virus).

Please note, that there are destructive programs that can arrive via email and it's certainly possible that one could arrive in an email with the title 'Be My Valentine'. (See the Happy99 Trojan.)

It is certainly good advice to NEVER accept any email with attachments that you did not request.

Lookup more information about VIRUS HOAXES

Never lose data to a virus! Use my simple 5-point protection plan


Step One: Use Windows Update every week or so to get the most recent security updates and patches. Windows ME & XP fully automates the process, but even done manually (from the icon that's usually near the top of your Win98 start menu), the Windows Update process is mostly painless. I received two copies of the Anna virus, which Norton Anti-Virus happily removed from my incoming e-mails. In fact, I've never suffered a major virus attack. The one time I thought I did actually turned out to be a series of garden-variety Windows crashes.

Step Two: Pay attention! I don't open attachments that I'm not expecting, especially if they come from strangers. You shouldn't, either.

Step Three: Virus protection software. It amazes me that fully 50 percent of personal computers aren't running virus protection. What are these people thinking? Apparently their data and time have no value, because virus protection is cheap; you can buy it at Wal-Mart, the warehouse stores, and all the office superstores.

It's both difficult and easy to choose anti-virus software. There are a number of brands, with Symantec's Norton and Network Associates' McAfee being the best known. I use Norton because it's what I've have always used. But I have friends who say McAfee just fine. Indeed, one easy way to choose is to listen to your friends. Alternatively, pick one of the major brands, which have become major for a reason.

Step Four: The best virus protection software can be worthless if you don't update it. It used to be a little difficult to get updated virus definitions. Today it's easy and inexpensive--the software will get them for you. New viruses are discovered almost daily, and while they may not be a threat right now, in six months they could be.

Step Five: Install a personal firewall, especially if you have a persistent Internet connection at home like DSL or a cable modem. You may never know that you needed a firewall until it's too late, and since they're being packaged with anti-virus software, it makes sense to install one. 

I can't promise 100 percent success. But I do promise this: Follow my 5-step program you'll be 99.9 percent protected against viruses. As protected as the current firewall applications allow against Internet attacks, worms, and other troublemakers.