Virus Hoax
Thursday, October 14th, 2010A computer virus hoax is a message, warning the recipient of a non-existent computer virus threat. The message is usually a chain e-mail that tells the recipient to forward it to everyone they know.
Identification
Most hoaxes are sensational in nature and are easily identified as they indicate that the virus will do nearly impossible things, like blow up the recipient’s computer and set it on fire, or delete everything on the user’s computer. They often include announcements claimed to be from reputable organizations such as Microsoft, IBM, or news sources such as CNN and include emotive language and encouragement to forward the message. These sources are quoted in order to add credibility to the hoax.
Virus hoaxes are usually harmless and accomplish nothing more than annoying people who identify it as a hoax and waste the time of people who forward the message. Nevertheless, a number of hoaxes have warned users that vital system files are viruses and encourage the user to delete the file, possibly damaging the system. Examples of this type include the jdbgmgr.exe virus hoax and the SULFNBK.EXE hoax.
Some consider virus hoaxes and other chain e-mails to be a computer worm which replicate by social engineering—exploiting users’ concern, ignorance, and disinclination to investigate before acting.
Hoaxes are distinct from computer pranks, which are harmless programs that perform unwanted and annoying actions on a computer, such as randomly moving the mouse, turning the screen display upside down, etc.
Proposed Action
Anti-virus specialists agree that recipients should delete virus hoaxes when they receive them, instead of forwarding them.