Hoaxes
Virus Hoaxes: 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.
Fortunately, Avert tracks virus hoaxes as well as genuine viruses. The next time you receive an urgent virus warning message, check it against the list of known virus hoaxes below. If it's a hoax, chances are you'll find it in our database. And if it's a real virus, we'll probably know about it already, and you'll find it in the McAfee Virus Information Library.
Don't 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 nonexistent 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 clear:
- Always remain vigilant
- Never open a suspicious attachment
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