OT: Virus Hoaxes & Other Virtual Nuisances
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: OT: Virus Hoaxes & Other Virtual Nuisances
- From: "* F* L* <c*@pacbell.net>
- Date: Wed, 27 Aug 1997 23:59:17 -0600 (MDT)
While this IS off-topic I though it contained some useful websites and
hypertext links related to computer hoaxes. I received the PEN PAL hoax
messages from two other sources within three days after seeing it one
the Iris List.
The following article from newspaper columnist Don Crabbe appeared in
the Chicago Sun-Times:
E-MAIL SUFFERS GROWING EPIDEMIC OF BOGUS VIRUS REPORTS
August 17, 1997
BY DON CRABB COMPUTER COLUMNIST
Q. A friend just warned me about an e-mail virus that shows up as having
a SUBJECT line of ``JOIN THE CREW.'' According to him, I should not open
it, but should delete it immediately. He tells me that opening the
message will lock my mouse and keyboard, then it will wipe out my hard
drive. How can I protect myself from this virus?
A. You can't, because it's a hoax. No such virus exists. It seems that
the joy of sending idiotic e-mail about bogus viruses has now become a
sport rivaling the creation of real viruses and other virtual pests. You
can read about more such e-mail hoaxes at the Department of Energy's
computer advisory site,
<www.ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html#join crew>
, which details hoaxes with names such as PKZ300, Irina, Good Times,
Good Times
Spoof, Deeyenda, Ghost, PenPal, Greetings!, Make Money Fast,
NaughtyRobot, AOL4Free, as well as Join the Crew. You can also find
information on Internet Chain Letters, another virtual nuisance, at:
<www.ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACChainLetters.html>.
Al Limberg
Concord, CA
