Thanks for conclusive information about this hoax. Regards,
Chetan Sharma ----- Original Message ----- From: "S K" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2007 10:54 AM Subject: Re: [AI] virus warning > Please read the info. available on net about this virus. Olympic Torch > Invitation Virus HoaxSummary: > Message claims that an email with an attached file called "Invitation" > contains a virus that will open an Olympic Torch that destroys the > computer's hard drive (Full commentary below.) > > > > Status: > False > > Update: > A new version of the hoax email falsely claims that the information in the > message has been verified by Hoax-Slayer.com and Snopes.com (details > below). > > Example:(Submitted, February 2006) WARNING > > You should be alert during the next days: Do not open any message with an > attached filed called "Invitation" regardless of who sent it. It is a > virus that opens an Olympic Torch which "burns" the whole hard disc C of > your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your > e-mail address in his/her contact list, that is why you should send this > e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times > than to receive the virus and open it. > > If you receive a mail called "invitation", though sent by a friend, do not > open it and shut down your computer immediately. > > This is the worst virus announced by CNN, it has been classified by > Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever. This virus was discovered by > McAfee yesterday, and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus. This > virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vital > information is kept. SEND THIS E-MAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, COPY THIS > E-MAIL AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM, > YOU WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US > > > > > > Commentary: > This "warning" message claims that an email with an attached file named > "Invitation" contains a virus that will destroy the hard drive of the > infected computer. According to the message, the attachment opens an > "Olympic Torch, which "burns" the whole hard disc C of your computer". > However, the claims in the message are untrue. The message is simply a > rehashed version of the long running Virtual Card for You virus hoax (see > example below) and should not be taken seriously. > > An examination of the two messages reveals that they share very similar > wording and attempt to perpetrate the same falsehoods. Both hoaxes claim > that the information has been announced by CNN, which is untrue. There is > nothing on the CNN website about a virus like the one described in the > message. Both also claim that the virus has been classified by Microsoft > as "the most destructive virus ever" and that the virus "destroys the Zero > Sector" of the infected hard drive. These claims are unfounded. > > There is no mention of such a virus on any of the major anti-virus company > websites other than articles debunking the "warning". McAfee, the company > named in the message, dismisses the warning as a hoax. > > If you receive this hoax message, please do not forward it to others. > Virus hoaxes such as this one do nothing more than clutter inboxes and > spread misinformation. If you receive a virus warning via email, always > take the time to check the veracity of the message on a reputable > anti-virus or anti-hoax website. > > Update: 16th March 2007 > In March 2007, I began receiving examples of the hoax that had the > following tacked to the top of the message: I checked snopes.com and > this is for real.. > > And also checked on Hoax-Slayer.com > > And found that this is a real virus. Apparently, someone has tried to add > some legitimacy to the hoax by pretending that he or she has checked the > information on this site as well as Snopes.com and found that its was > true. However, the only information about the "invitation" virus on > Hoax-Slayer.com is the article you are currently reading and other > articles that clearly identify it as a hoax. Moreover, urban legend site > Snopes.com also classifies the message as a hoax. > > This tactic is one that is quite commonly used by pranksters. Just because > a message claims that information has been verified on a hoax or virus > information site does not mean that it is true. Always check such claims > for yourself before forwarding the message. > > References: > Virtual Card for You Virus Hoax > CNN Website > McAfee: A Virtual Card For You Hoax > > Original Version: > 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 and no vaccine has > yet ! been developed. 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 o pened 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 > > > > Last updated: 16th March 2007 > First published: February 2006 > Write-up by Brett M.Christensen > > > Anjali Arora <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: PLEASE FORWARD THIS > WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS: > > You should be alert during the next days: > > Do not open any message with an attached filed called "Invitation" > regardless of who sent it, It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which > "burns" the > whole hard disc C of your computer. > > This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in > his/her contact list, that is why you should send this e-mail to all your > contacts. > It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus > and open it. > > If you receive a mail called "invitation", though sent by a friend, do not > open it and shut down your computer immediately. This is the worst virus > announced > by CNN, it has been classified by Microsoft as the mostdestructive virus > ever. > > This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is no repair yet > for this kind of virus. This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the > Hard > Disc, where the vital information is kept > > SEND THIS E-MAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW , > > COPY THIS E-MAIL AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > > --------------------------------- > Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? > Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
