Viruses, Worms, Trojans and How to Protect Your Computer!
Almost every day, we receive another dire warning about some new virus
that is going to destroy our hard drive and render the rest of the
computer useless! And all of them are false. There are many
real viruses, but you won't hear about them in a forwarded email.
Real Viruses - What are Viruses and Worms?
Viruses
are tiny computer programs, bits of code that usually
install without your knowledge or consent, and degrade your computer's
performance, often while using your computer to accomplish some negative goal,
such as destroying your files, or sending out more copies of the virus through
your email. These are the two main characteristics of a virus: 1. to accomplish
some goal as a program and 2. to reproduce and spread itself.
Check out
www.SecurityResources.Org for the latest information on real
security threats. They have a page,
http://www.securityresources.org/news.htm that provides a free list
of the up to date, current threats, viruses and worms.
Virus Hoaxes
Here is a sample of a virus hoax, the BUDDYLST email. Keep in mind, t
BUDDYLST.ZIP is not a virus. It is a hoax. The "virus" does not exist.
There is currently no virus that has the characteristics ascribed to
BUDDYLST.ZIP. It is a sham, meant only to panic new or inexperienced
computer users.
The hoax message includes the following "warning" in several forms:
Form 1
Yesterday a
friend of mine called and told me about something that happened to him. He
opened his E-mail and this BUDDYLST.ZIP was there. When he opened it his
computer crashed and when he tried to re-boot he had lost everything! It was
a Virus that is being passed around...........BEWARE!
Please
forward to as many people as you can so no one will get hurt. These people
need to be stopped. Don't download anything form "buddhist.zip" or you will
lose all your files.
Form 2
A computer
virus is going around! It is called BUDDYLST.ZIP! Do not download or some
jerk from the internet will get your screen name and password! Please send
this to any names you can think of and remember never download BUDDYLST.ZIP
Please ignore any messages regarding this supposed "virus" and do not pass on
any messages regarding it. Passing on messages about this hoax serves only to
further propagate it.
Here is one recently received, as an example of what is being sent:
A computer
virus is going around! It is called BUDDYLST.ZIP – DO NOT DOWNLOAD or some
jerk from the Internet will get your screen name and password! Please send
this to any names you can think of and remember never download BUDDYLST.ZIP!!!
ALSO... 3) If you receive an email entitled "WIN A HOLIDAY" ... DO NOT open
it. It will erase everything in your hard drive. Forward this letter to as
many people as you can. This is a new, very malicious virus and not many
people know about it. This information was announced very recently from
Microsoft. Please share it with everyone that might access the Internet.
Once again, pass this along to EVERYONE in your address book so that this
may be stopped!!!
AND
FINALLY... 4) Do not open or even look at any mail that says: "RETURNED OR
UNABLE TO DELIVER". This virus will attach itself to your computer
components and render them useless. Immediately delete any mail items that
say this. AOL has said that this is a very dangerous virus and that there is
NO remedy for it at this time. Please practice cautionary measures PLEASE
DISTRIBUTE THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE...THANKS!
Craig
Fischer, President
CASI
2850 Pio Pico Drive, Suite G
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Phone 760-720-2575
Fax 760-720-2580
CraigF@CASISYS.com
www.casisys.com
For more information about fake, hoax viruses, see these websites:
- Virus Myths and Hoaxes (no Spam, no advertisements). This site has the
latest virus scares and hoaxes making the rounds.
- AntiOnline’s virus collection - If you
want to download and study a virus, here are over 600 of the most
common, rendered harmless, of course. This may help you diagnosis your
virus problem by showing you exactly what happens. They also define
computer viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses with a very good Frequently
Asked Question section.
-
The
Anti-Virus Product Developers (AVPD) Consortium
- Lawdesk.com
Great information on virus hoaxes, along with links to anti-virus
developers; dedicated to industry standards, product testing, product
certification, and market research. Has a very thorough collection,
archive, on viruses in the world.
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