Heads Up - New PC Virus Attack Warning!!!

[Steve Taylor]

Hi Warriors,

Below is a notice I got from a friend about a new virus attack for PC users.

This is what he sent me:

Just received this and checked it at Snopes before I got too
> excited... This is the first one I've seen that's for real. NO HOAX.
> Be alert.
>
> Snopes lists all the names it could come in.
>
> Here's the URL for you to check
>
> <snopes.com: 'Hallmark Postcard from a Family Member' virus
>
> --- Fwd ---
>
> VERY IMPORTANT - BIG VIRUS COMING !!!
>
> PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS!
>
> You should be alert during the next few days. Do not open any message
> with an attachment entitled 'POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK,' regardless of
> who sent it to you. It is a virus which opens A POSTCARD IMAGE - it
> 'burns' the entire hard disc C. This virus will be received from
> someone who has your e-mail address in their contact list.
>
> This is the reason why you must send this e-mail to all your
> contacts. It is better to receive this message multiple times than to
> receive the virus and open it.
>
> If you receive mail called' POSTCARD,' even though sent to you by a
> friend, do not open it! 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.
> McAfee discovered this virus yesterday, and there is no repair yet
> for this kind of virus.
>
> This virus destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vital
> information is kept.
>
> COPY THIS E-MAIL TO YOUR FRIENDS.
>
> REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT ON, YOU WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US
======================

I'm on a mac, so I haven't followed the snoop link and the virus shouldn't be a concern for me.

With the holidays coming up and e-post cards being sent, I can see how someone would open the Hallmark attachment.

Be careful.

-Steve

[David McAnulty]

Appreciate the warning Steve. I have fowarded to to my personal list. Does this mean little virus have a name?

[Steve Taylor]

Originally Posted by David McAnulty

Appreciate the warning Steve. I have fowarded to to my personal list. Does this mean little virus have a name?

Hi David, I don't know much about it but I did look at the snoop link and at the end it said that it's not a new virus.

Just with the holidays coming up, people might be more inclined to open a Hallmark attachment.

-Steve

[Spike SpiegelIM]

Thanks for the heads up Steve..
Yeah people could be easily fall victim to this since it's the holidays..

[rosetrees]

Yawn - that's one of the oldest hoax virus warnings ever!!!! It's been doing the rounds for years. DON'T forward it!!

It's the most visited page on my phishing blog.

[CWreports]

If you receive mail called' POSTCARD,' even though sent to you by a
friend, do not open it! Shut down your computer immediately

Thanks for the warning Steve.

A question though. What does the above quote mean? Are they saying by simply being a recipient of such an email will cause the virus...ie You don't even need to open it.

If that's the case what good is it to immediately shutting down system?

Just a little baffling to me.

Carol

[Steve Taylor]

Originally Posted by rosetrees

Yawn - that's one of the oldest hoax virus warnings ever!!!! It's been doing the rounds for years. DON'T forward it!!

It's the most visited page on my phishing blog.

So, are you saying that it's not a virus?

I don't know because I don't follow all the virus stuff, being on an apple computer...it's new to me, so thought I would just put it out there.

If it's old hat...then take it for what it's worth.

-Steve

[rosetrees]

Yes - it's what's known as a hoax virus warning. It's just designed to frighten people and turn them into spammers. The language is always the giveaway - they all contain phrases like "send this to everyone you know", "I'd rather receive this warning 25 times than receive the virus", "it will erase the whole of your C drive".

Usually it was discovered "yesterday" with no date given, etc

This one has been doing the rounds for years - I think since about 2002. This is what Snopes actually says

Although the Postcard virus is real, it isn't a "BIG VIRUS COMING" (it's already been around in multiple forms for a long time now), it will not "burn the whole hard disc" of your computer, CNN didn't classify it as the "worst virus" ever, and it doesn't arrive in messages bearing a subject line of 'Invitation.'"

The virus referred to has nothing to do with the hoax warning.

I always say to people to never pass on a warning without checking it on the website of their antivirus software manufacturer. Most have databases of malware.