Virus Hoaxes - As Bad As The Real Thing?

Posted by Paul Wilcox on: 2006-08-31 23:36:29

A computer virus can cause a great deal of damage to your computer or can lead to the theft of your data. This can result in programs that don't work, real time money that is stolen, and time that is lost.

Hoaxes can cause the same problems.

Typically a hoax will arrive in your email and warn you of a brand new threat to your computer. Once the email outlines how the new virus works it asks you to forward the mail to others in your email address book. This is a chain letter that can cause a great deal of damage.

Virus hoaxes can travel far and wide. If each person who gets it sends it to ten other, and each of these ten people send it to ten more people, the list is endless. Once six generations have passed over one million false email will have been sent. By the seventh generation this number will be ten million. By the eighth generation it will be 100 million emails that have no purpose and are using up space on networks.

This problem can cause routers and servers to crash and slow down.

Many times a hoax will be sent with good intentions. For example, there was a warning in email about a virus that was called the "Deeyenda". It has been circulating since 1995. The email says that the Deeyenda virus is known to the FCC and should be passed on.

This email is false. A virus can't be run and activated just by you reading the email. As well, the FCC does not send out warnings about any viruses. They do send out information about spyware. A last comment: there is no Deeyenda virus.

A hoax can do a lot of damage. Some hoaxes will warn you to delete files on your computer that might have the virus. These files are often unknown to most users and are crucial to the correct running of your computer. If you delete them you might not notice the effect immediately. At least until you reboot your system and it won't start.

How to Fight Virus Hoaxes

The first thing that you have to do is recognize a hoax.

A good clue about a hoax is when a lot of technical words are used. A hoax called "good times" had this warning: "If the program is not stopped, the computer's processor will be placed in an nth-complexity infinite binary loop which can severely damage the processor". Although this might sound impressive there is no nth-complexity infinite binary loop. As well, no computer processor can be harmed if it's used a lot. It may be slow because you're running a lot of processes but it certainly won't stop working.

Some hoaxes will contain a reference to an organization that really exists such as the FCC or a legitimate company that sells antivirus software. You can easily verify this information if it's a real warning. And if it is real you should expect to see references of it somewhere, such as on television, as well as the Internet.

Make sure that you never buy anything from someone who claims they can fix any virus infection your computer might have. There are plenty of authentic vendors of antivirus software, many of whom have products that you can download or have services you can use via the Internet. You can verify all this information by reading trade reviews and testimonials from sources you can trust.

Don't end up being a victim.

Paul Wilcox writes about internet security issues for the Internet Cyber Security website. Get more helpful information and advice at http://www.internetcybersecurity.com

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User comments:

colton1237 - Posted on: 2010-08-31 14:17:13

Typically a hoax will arrive in your email and warn you of a brand new threat to your computer. Once the email outlines how the new virus works it asks you to forward the mail to others in your email address book.

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I think I am going to use a similar blog template to yours. I find it very attractive to the reader.
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john5422 - Posted on: 2011-05-25 22:42:07

I agree with your all the way on this. The false hoaxes are definitely just as bad as the real ones. We have to do a better job of controlling these in the future. forensic science colleges

jimb45 - Posted on: 2011-06-03 20:59:47

I cannot understand why this is happening on a regular basis. This effects so many people when this hoax happens. We need to prosecute these people to the max. California Answering Service

JackBenny - Posted on: 2011-06-09 09:13:53

This problem can cause routers and servers to crash and slow down.Rochville University

JackBenny - Posted on: 2011-06-09 09:14:31

It has been circulating since 1995. The email says that the Deeyenda virus is known to the FCC and should be passed on.Universal Degrees

JackBenny - Posted on: 2011-06-09 09:15:10

A hoax can do a lot of damage. WEVAC University

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I find it very attractive to the reader. Woodfield University

JackBenny - Posted on: 2011-06-09 09:16:35

We need to prosecute these people to the max.Almeda University

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cagenicolus - Posted on: 2011-07-18 12:34:46

mostly these things happened with us and we suffer from such types of hoaxes most of the time.

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JohnsonSmith - Posted on: 2011-09-13 15:18:05

These things should be kept in mind so that the people will able to deal with this and the virus
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lilyallen - Posted on: 2011-09-23 19:49:28

This effects so many people when this hoax happens. We need to prosecute these people to the max

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JohnsonSmith - Posted on: 2011-11-10 13:48:14

Great information you have given about Hoaxes. Alerting post it is. Now,I can relax from this virus at least.Thanks for such post.
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JohnsonSmith - Posted on: 2011-11-17 11:23:53

Alerting post it is. Now I will take care of such emails . I will refer this post to all contacts in my email book so that they also can take care.Thanks for such post.
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stamfordprivee - Posted on: 2011-12-20 09:57:08

This is a really nice article. I am sure a lot of people will like it. Thanks!

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AnthonyDavis - Posted on: 2011-12-30 12:01:22

It has happened very much that we receive such hoax mails and then it goes to someone in our address book and then from there it goes to somewhere else.We must do all the necessary study to save ourself from the hoax mails.

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SFOasia - Posted on: 2012-01-06 12:50:44

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