Virus Warning

[BP-Revo]

Apparently, there is some horrible virus going around that fries your computer's C drive somehow. It has been identified by Microsoft as the worst virus ever. And as of now, there is no fix to it.

You receive the virus in E-Mails, usually from friends (sent via your friend's list). The e-mail will have "postcard" written as the subject. It apparently contains some sort of virus post card image which otherwise destroys your C: drive.

So, just as a warning, if you receive any email titled "postcard" from anyone, DO NOT OPEN IT.

[suicideneil]

Thanks for the heads up, where'd you hear this to?

[BP-Revo]

Got the warning forwarded to me from my mom, who had it forwarded to her by friends.

[Arct1k]

Nothing here - sometimes those emails are the virus... a human one

http://www.symantec.com/norton/secur...orer/index.jsp

[BP-Revo]

Well, thats just what I was told. Following it or not is up to you...

[BrianG]

For a virus to send emails in a sender's friends list, the sender usually is the one that has some sort of virus. There is usually an image or some other document attached to it.

Ok, so let's say the attachment is an image. The image is usually named something like "vacation.jpg" and so the recipient downloads it. However, WindowsXP has a setting where it, in the default installation, hides file extensions for known file types. So, the "vacation.jpg" you just downloaded is actually "vacation.jpg.exe" but the "exe" part is hidden because it is a known file type. So, the user double-clicks on the "image" so they can view it, but instead inadvertently runs whatever code compiled in it since it is actually an executable.

One way to help prevent this type of thing is to show file extensions for ALL file types. Changing it is easy - in XP: Go to Control Panel -> Folder Options -> click the "view" tab -> uncheck the box labeled "Hide extensions for know file types" -> click "OK". All files will now show their real extension, not whatever someone named it.

It also helps to have whatever AV client you use to scan emails. Some even will scan files retrieved via a web-based system like Yahoo, gmail, hotmail, etc.

[sanitys]

to be honest its not that hard to embed a exe file into a .jpg file, now most anti virus will detect it, but the whatever.jpg.exe really isnt used much compared to just embedding the virus into whatever image you want. general rule of thumb, dont open emails from people you dont know, and on top of that programs such as MS outlook even ask you if you wish to view the images/html, its just way to easy to embed stuff without people knowing it.

the best virus protection, dont open random emails, dont goto random porn sites, use something like ccleaner, or spy bot or whatever you perfer, and use a good small foot print anti-virus, i personally use ccleaner in conjuction with syanmtec anti-viruse corp. edition. Never had any issues with virus/spy/ad/whatever the case may be.

[Just go Play]

From my personal experience I have found that there are generally a couple of ways I can tell if a virus warning should be taken seriously or is more likely to be a hoax...

1) I get an email from my parents warning me of some super evil virus. (I love them dearly but they are about as computer clueless as my cats and cannot be taken seriously on such matters)

2) The warning is being reported through email by friends of friends or large mailing list. (same reasons as above but minus the love)

3) Microsoft is not a trustworthy source of information for zeroday virus or security issues. (Microsofts name is often used to lend a sense of credibility to hoaxes and scams because people like my parents have heard of them and do not know about genuine computer security or virus related companies.)

Now having said that I figured I'd check this one out and this is in fact a hoax. There are a number of places that document it as such like here just as an example.

As for avoiding the real thing BrianG and sanitys have very sound advise that will help you keep most of the nasty stuff out of your pc.

[kingiggy262]

Sounds like this could be the new virus that BP-Revo is talking about. It doesn't compromise the C drive of your computer though, just seems to send thousands of emails from your account. It is called the Kraken worm. Definitely a powerful one!

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post...-programs.html

I don't use windows, haven't ever gotten a virus on any of my non windows computers, but I have a few questions about them.

Can they actually harm you equipment? Also how would they? I could see them erasing reformatting etc, but not damaging it.

Could they mess with the bios/clock speeds and voltages of your cpu, gpu etc to burn them out?

[Just go Play]

I have never come across a virus that was able to actually damage hardware and seriously doubt that it would be possible. I have seen several that were able to alter settings in the bios and I've heard that there may be a current virus that is able to possibly overwrite modern asus bios. I have not checked into that one yet but it sounds feasible since asus bios is able to be updated from a windows utility... not the smartest move they could have made IMHO.

i have a apple computer can i get this virus

[BrianG]

I suppose a vieus could damage hardware if it altered the settings for CPU vcore settings or something like that. But you'd think you'd get lockups or something.

[brijar]

It seems very unlikely to me that a virus could "burn" your C drive, or any part of your physical computer, really. And another question: WHY!? Why on Earth would someone want to spread/make a virus that destroys the computers it infects (and how would they test it?)? I know there are some crazy people out there, but how would this get them anywhere? It would only be good for computer companies when people have to go buy a new computer. I would think that viruses would only target spreading themselves and/or spreading ads and spyware and adware and such on the infected computer.

Just a thought.

Brijar!!!

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by brijar

...Why on Earth would someone want to spread/make a virus that destroys the computers it infects....

Because they can. And malware that targets user browsing habits for marketing reasons is more like spyware/adware than a virus. And Trojans usually don't do anything by themselves other than open a door to allow something in that can. I