Spyware, viruses, & security : POSTCARD VIRUS?
POSTCARD VIRUS?
by swensonje - 2/19/08 1:00 PMI received an email today, warning me of a "new" virus running rampant through cyberspace called "Postcard.
I went to Snopes.com and followed this link: http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp "It is a virus showing a POSTCARD IMAGE which 'burns' the whole hard disk C of your computer. 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....If you receive an email called' POSTCARD,' even though sent to you by a friend, do not open it.! Shut down your computer immediately...." (And if we do this, what do we do then? Perform an exorcism?)
I then followed their link to McAfee: http://vil.nai.com/vil/Content/v_142621.htm . According to this description, the last update was 11/07, the risk was LOW!!
Hopefully somebody out there in CNET-land can shed some light on this subject. Thanks...J
Risk assessment
by Donna Buenaventura
- 2/19/08 8:46 PM
In reply to: POSTCARD VIRUS? by swensonje
That's McAfee's risk assessment on the said infection:
http://www.mcafee.com/us/threat_center/outbreaks/virus_library/risk_assessment.html#Low
"Low
* Applies to locally exploitable vulnerabilities that, when successfully leveraged, do not result in a permanent compromise of the attacked systems
* Applies to vulnerabilities that were originally rated "Medium" and are present only in a non-default configuration or in a application with a limited distribution
"
Even other vendors change their risk assessment. Depending on what their 'radar system' is getting.
RE: POSTCARD VIRUS?
by praetorian909 - 2/25/08 10:25 PM In reply to: POSTCARD VIRUS? by swensonjeI think it's a myth. I don't believe there's ever been a virus that destructive (with the exception of CIH, that one was pretty bad).
But it is a good idea not to open those emails. I've personally received spam emails that are disguised as greeting cards.
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_postcard_virus.htm
HOAX...I Received One Today Also
by Grif Thomas - 2/26/08 11:15 AM
In reply to: POSTCARD VIRUS? by swensonje
See the link below:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_postcard_virus.htm
There are other eCard issues out there but this isn't one of them.
Hope this helps.
Grif
Snopes.com Postcard virus
by jcfuller - 3/8/08 3:55 PM In reply to: HOAX...I Received One Today Also by Grif Thomas
Checked with McAfee, mentioned as having discovered the virus. They state that it is a hoax. See <http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_143338.htm>
Of course, snopes.com stating it is a hoax does not help to clarify the issue.
It would be nice if snopes.com could explain why it believes it is a real threat if McAfee denies it.
Postcard virus
by jcfuller - 3/8/08 3:57 PM In reply to: Snopes.com Postcard virus by jcfullerSorry the McAfee link got broken up.
Here it is:
<http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_143338.htm>
Postcard Virus
by jcfuller - 3/8/08 3:59 PM In reply to: Postcard virus by jcfullernot sure why I can't add a link. Let's try one last time.
http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_143338.htm
postcard virus
by informationalconcept - 4/24/08 6:40 AM In reply to: POSTCARD VIRUS? by swensonjeOk guys this is the thick and thin of it. There is no virus and this has been confirmed as a hoax by snopes and McAfee. If you go to Snopes and read you will see for yourself that it references a similar virus from a while back that was labeled similarly. Anyway thanks for listening.
more from Symantec on this
by ITpsycho - 7/9/08 9:47 PM In reply to: postcard virus by informationalconceptinformationalconcept is right - Norton does confirm this " http://community.norton.com/norton/board/message?board.id=nis_feedback&thread.id=1310 "
The part of the e-mail (which I got from a friend a few moments ago) that concerns me is that it contains links which those less fortunate and less informed might be tempted to simply click on to further research the information in the message - we all know that's a bad idea.
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