new computer virus

[cwclark]

Hi guys,

Just got an e-mail from my wife and she informed me that there is a new virus out there that is wiping out hard drives...it is showing up in e-mails with the description: "A card for you"...delete it and under no curcumstances open it even if it is from someone you know...they haven't found an antidote for this one yet...Chuck

[howmus]

This is a hoax! Check it out at: http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/card.asp

This has been around the internet for several years. You guys using PCs have enough worries with real viruses and worms, spyware, etc. to get upset about the hoaxes out there. Always go to snopes.com and check to see if there is really a concern before posting about it. Also check with symantec to see if they list it.

This post is a virus for Mac OS X. It works on the honor system. Please start deleting random files on your system and forward this message to everyone in your address book. [}:)]

[Anonymous]

That's why some of the Yahoo Groups that I follow have policies against posting the latest virus messages. They can become so prevalent that they are often worse than the actual virus.

Bob Boudreau

[davekelly]

Chuck,

Yeah it is a hoax, but I do appreciate your concern about this to let us all know. While virus upset me, sometimes the hoaxs upset me more because they prey on those folks that actually care about others, like you.

Dave

[Anonymous]

I checked various sites and turned up nothing. This is a hoax.

Now.. viligance against viruses are commendable. But email monitoring is NOT going to help anyone defend against viruses.

If you want to protect your computer against viruses, worms, trojans then you need to do:

1- Purchase a reputable antivirus program such as Norton from Symantec (There are about 30 good vendors that do a excellent job with the products)

2- Purchase a firewall, sometimes a combined anti-virus/firewall provides a good defense especially against infections that uses "Back doors" or unauthorized communication to the internet while you are either asleep (computer should be off and disconnected from net) or away.

3- Visit sites such as Homeland Security Internet Center, Internet Storm Center, Symantec, F-Secure and others that provide current information on present activity and how to defend yourself against infection.

4- Look for and visit sites that help fight Hoaxes and other misleading stuff going around on the internet. To know what is "Happening" can help keep you happy from any unnecessary alarms and postings.

5- Keep in mind emails and fake websites are used by "Phishers" in a attempt to trick you or intimidate you into providing confidential information. Such as "Trains.com will terminate your account unless you provide username and password to validate act." such actions can reveal themselves thru bad grammer and unknown senders who you know NOTHING about.

6- Finally, use spyware / malware programs that cleans your computer of infections and avoid disreputable sites and those that seek too much information from you.

So. I hope that this helps arm and protect you from future problems regarding email hoaxes that are as old as time itself. I have fallen for a few good ones in my time.

Next we would be hearing about anti-bacterial paint or track cleaners and such for our train stuff.

[cwclark]

ok...sorry about the post...I didn't know it was a hoax..my wife sent it to me and i was concerned because she said in the e-mail (apparently that was sent to her) that this was a new virus and it affected New york last night....I've had the blaster worm on my computer before and it's no laughing matter..in fact, i'm paranoid about these things because I've seen what they can do to a computer....I even got a firewall, anti-virus and ad aware on my computer to try and combat these things...some of us aren't computer genuises and it doesn't take much to set me off on these matters...If i worried anybody I apoligize...Chuck

[howmus]

Hey Chuck!

Don't worry about it. I have sent more than a few on to everybody I know back when....... I have some friends who keep sending me the real ones because they don't or won't know how to avoid them and clean their computers. One nice thing about using a mac is that there are no current viruses for OS X. However, I still do my best to keep them off my email in boxes, etc. I have a niece who even after being told dozens of times to check things out, still sends me 3 or 4 hoaxes a month. That is how I knew about this one. I've already recieved it about 200 times! LOL [:D]

Thanks for your posts!

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Chuck,

Yeah it is a hoax, but I do appreciate your concern about this to let us all know. While virus upset me, sometimes the hoaxs upset me more because they prey on those folks that actually care about others, like you.

Dave

Or the gullible . . .

[davekelly]

CBQ, yeah the gullible also. I think the gullible are those that beleive that if they forward an email to 10 people that Bill Gates will send them $10,000 or the one's that believe a guy woke up in a bath tub full of ice with a note saying his kidneys have been stolen. Sometimes I want to throttle the person that sends me these - unless it's sent as a joke (ie: "read this - is this the funniest?")

Guys like cw on the other hand are motivated to help out his friends. That's cool and I don't mind it at all. It's when folks stop caring about me is when I'll start to worry.

[grayfox1119]

Ray has given the website for checking potential virus threats as hoaxes. I would stongly advise all you computer newbees to paste this URL onto your desktop ( computer screen) and use it to check the hundreds of false email virus threats that you will receive in the future. Please check the source first for a hoax before ringing the alarm bell.