anyone else hear about this new virus?

[DemInDistress]

My friend from Kansas sent me this notice...
READ and pay attention:

Bill
WORST VIRUS EVER --- 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 . 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:

"A 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 !!
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

[PWRinNY]

1. This is a hoax

Been a hoax for a long time. Not a real virus.

[goondogger]

2. Hoax

These things always sound scary (and they're written to make the typical user nervous), but this is a hoax. I usually educate my staff (very smart editors, but not too technology-savvy) with the following two easy ways to spot fake virus alerts:

1. Invoking the names of companies (i.e. Microsoft, McAfee, CNN) with no definite link/reference. The attempt at legitimacy without substance is a big clue.

2. The appeal to forward this email onward. There are clear channels for advising computer users of viruses and other threats, and chain letters aren't one of them.

Also, keep in mind Microsoft isn't one to call attention to exploits in their OS/Office suite.

Google can also be your friend here. Just enter the name of the virus (in this case: "A Virtual Card for You") and you'll get your answer.

Hope this helps.

[DemInDistress]

4. Thanks for the insight..

I'm a novice when it comes to virus alerts. I ran it by DU for just that reason, I can always get the correct facts here. So many smart and cordial people here..

:hi: :hi: :thumbsup:

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Please don't think I was being a smartass

There's a lot of these out there, anyone can fall for 'em.

I'll echo what the other poster said: Snopes.com is the place to check first.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Isn't this hoax, like, 10 years old?

It's almost as old as the innnernets themselves.

[TexasProgresive]

6. That would make it slightly longer then

the BabyBush pResidency hoax.

[HockeyMom]

5. I just did a McAfee scan today

and a notification came up about a new Worm. Don't know if this is what you are talking about.

[johnaries]

7. www.snopes.com is a great site to check for hoaxes,

urban legends, and email hoaxes.
I did a search for "virtual card virus" and here are all the references, the first one from 2002:
http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=virtual+card+virus&getit=Go&sp-a=00062d45-sp00000000&sp-advanced=1&sp-p=all&sp-w-control=1&sp-w=alike&sp-date-range=-1&sp-x=any&sp-c=100&sp-m=1&sp-s=0

But, as always, DU is always a great reference source for just about ANYTHING!