Keep Your Computer Safe From Viruses and Hoaxes!
By Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
July 23, 2007 7:43am CST
I was inspired to start this discussion after reading and responding to a Mylot Member's discussion on receipt of a similar letter to the one described below, and her panic. I feel we should all be aware of the facts, given here and should take the time to check out such mails before taking any action on them whatsoever.
I received an e-mail from a friend, containing a site where you can check out if there's any virus content in your e-mails. The URL for this check is www. Snopes.com, and the site gives you all the information you need about viruses; whether a virus is real or
a hoax, exactly what type of threat it is, what it will do to your computer, and how it is transferred from computer to computer. This is an excellent site to check out and it has saved me from forwarding emails about new virus threats that are hoaxes.
There IS a new virus! Yes, unfortunately it's true... this virus was discovered in early July and it is quickly working its way around the Internet. The name of the virus is "Robot" and it looks as if this one has perfected the use of trickery. The virus comes in through an e-mail, with the scammers conning you into thinking they're going to help you, but they actually infect you instead.
Keep reading for more details on this!
The e-mail says something about a robot detecting abnormal activity from your IP address when you're sending out e-mails. It then goes on to say that this is probably happening because of another virus and they offer you a patch. to install. The patch will supposedly remove the virus files and stop any further "bad" e-mails from going out. They then tell you
that if you don't get the patch, your account will be blocked and you won't be able to send any e-mails at all.
Once you install the patch, a Trojan then installs itself into your Windows system folder under the name of "windev-72b5-203e.sys." The Trojan virus has also been found under other names, including Trojan.Packed.13, W32/Nuwar@MM, Worm:Win32/Nuwar.JT and Mal/Dorf-A. Now, as you can see, this scam is perfect, because when most people are told they're infected with a virus, they do whatever they can to get rid of it. That is, despite the fact they may be hurting themselves even more in the end.
So, the bottom line is, if you see anything like this pop up in your e-mail, don't do anything with it. Just ignore it, delete it and keep on moving. Your chosen security system should detect the viruses and if ever you're not sure, please take the time to check out the e-mail with snopes.com, or delete it, immediately.
Stay safe, my friends!
4 people like this
16 responses
@raydene (9871)
• United States
23 Jul 07
Thank You Sweets for letting us all know about this.
The site is great.I will be checking it daily I'm sure.
I never open anything unless I am expecting it anymore.
I have had my days of messed up computers so I know better now.
It's like the you won scams.
I always wonder how many actually waste their time with them.
And almost daily I get an email from a friend with a urban legend warning.
We want to help each other.
I think we have to be careful not to dismiss these emails altogether because there may be someone copying an unban legend that they read online.Better safe then sorry as my gran used to say.
Hugs Honey
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
23 Jul 07
Thank you for posting a very informative topic. I hope other user take to heart what you have said. I always use snopes for any email or information I get which I am not quite sure of. My Nortons Security is very good at keeping my computer clean as I always have my virus protection on.
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
23 Jul 07
Yes, I think there are some good security programmes out there, but it's always good to know how to handle these e-mails that sneak through the net. I too hope that a few people take note of this warning, because the hackers need to be fought against. They cause misery and isolation to so many people, and what they gain from it, I fail to understand.
Thank you for your input and Brightest Blessings.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
26 Jul 07
While the spreading of virus, trojans and worms is made easy by the use of the internet so it is possible to warn others of there existence. Sites like Snopes do a terrific job.
Thanks for looking out for us all Darkwing. Blessed be.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
24 Jul 07
I have never heard of snopes so i will check it out and sorry for the mispelling of your name, we need an EDIT button MYLOT!!!!!!
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
24 Jul 07
This is great advice, Darkwing. It is so easy for these viruses to get in. You think you are getting help, but the opposite is happening. I try to avoid all emails that i am not sure about. I nearly got caught just last week with an email that i thought was real but fortunately i checked it out and found it to be a hoax. I am glad i didnt open the link. But i nearly did.
Best wishes to you, Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
•
24 Jul 07
What you say is true, Kay. I think if you have a virus scanner and an adware checker which you trust, then there should be no need for any other, whatever they tell you. Stick with what you know, is my motto.
You're quite welcome to the advice. We have to stick together on issues like this, in order to keep the hackers at bay.
Brightest Blessings.
1 person likes this
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
25 Jul 07
I have a virus checker and adware program, which are good. I just got to remember to do adware every day. Ive had heaps of trouble lately with my computer, but looks like we have sorted it out, fingers crossed.
cheers and best wishes to you, Darkwing
@dbhattji (2506)
• India
26 Jul 07
Thanks for the information, i am always looking for ways of making my computer safe because I do a lot of browsing and get many viruses on my computer.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul 07
Well I had an Email today in my AOL Spam asking me to download something I deleted it straight away I did not know the Sender and I will not download anything that I do not know what it is
There is also a Virus going round in MSN apparently it is sending you Photos to download and it looks like the Person who you are talking to has sent it but they haven't my Mum got caught on that last week, so if you are on MSN and talking to someone and it comes up to download Photos please ask the Person you are Talking to first if they have sent it to you do not download
@healer (1779)
• India
23 Jul 07
Thanks for sharing those important informations, i reboot my computer at least once in two weeks because of virus. And this is all happening after i installed my internet in my computer, my laptop is safe from virus as i don't use internet from there but my PC sometimes get crushed by virus. I have got anti virus but i think sometimes it goes out of it also.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
24 Jul 07
You're quite welcome. I hope lots more people will read it and become aware of the possibilities. If we can fight these hackers, then they may eventually give up. Thank goodness for sites like Snopes. I have an anti virus too, but sometimes, the viruses get missed. I suppose the hackers can disguise them.
Thank you for your input and Brightest Blessings.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
24 Jul 07
Hello darkwing. This is a very interesting and informative discussion. I have never heard of snopes until now. I snooped around a bit and saw there are a lot of stuff to look through.
I'm currently using zone alarm and a friend told me it's the most powerful anti-virus and anti-spyware program. But it is still better to play safe with our computer. Thanks for sharing this one, my friend. Very insightful and a lot of us can greatly benefit from it. I have it bookmarked for easy reference. :)
@Darkwing (21583)
•
24 Jul 07
Hi Charms. I hope things are a little better for you than they have been recently.
Yes, it's a very good programme, and I thought sharing would help a few problems with false alarms. Agreed, Zone Alarm is a very good programme, which you should never have too many problems with, so the e-mails and popups won't mean anything to you. If you trust the one you've got, stick with it and ignore all the alerts and mails you receive.
Just in case, though, it's good to know you can check things out before diving into a pit! You're quite welcome to the information, and bookmarking is an excellent way to keep the programme at hand.
Brightest Blessings. xx
@ibsnet (1268)
• India
23 Jul 07
Thanks for posting some good info. I always use Norton protection in my PC. Nowadays it is very vulnerable to surf internet due to daily growing viruses. Once if infected by any virus during surfing, the system becomes unstable and once I have to format the whole lot. Norton in this case is quite a reliable one. I am now quite secure with norton protection.
@senthil2k (1500)
• India
23 Jul 07
Thanks for the information. This will help many to be aware of such things and keep their system safe.
I wonder how hackers and virus writer can think of different ways of spreading their viruses. If they can use their skill in positive way, they can do wonders.
@lanbeiliu (29)
• China
24 Jul 07
thank u for sharing the good website and the important imformations,it is very useful,i will be careful when i open my emails next time.thank u very much
@maverick_ph_m (39)
• Philippines
24 Jul 07
As for me, to protect my pc from virus, i am very cautious on what files to open, what site to enter, and first and foremost to install a firewall and anti-virus protection software.
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
23 Jul 07
I have listed Snopes as one of my interests and I really enjoy reading about the urban myths. Sometimes when you tell people that what they have sent you is a myth, and cite Snopes, they get offended. I am so thankful for the information that it makes available. This is also a valuable discussion. Thanks friend.
@naadia (828)
• India
23 Jul 07
thanks for discussion.i never got such mail.if i got like this mail i never open because i have some bad experience with some mail i have got last year.it contain some really bad pictures(i dont know it is a virus or not).after that incident i never open a suspicious mail or from unknown mail!
