Re: Fwd: Virus Notice

I could tell by the way this one read, that it was most likely a Hoax and it is... It's usually pretty easy to figure out wether or not one of these e-mails is a Hoax buy just searching on Google.com for a prase or sentence in the email. Usually the Title will work well. Beware, that sometimes the Forwards can contain Viruses, Trojans, Rootkits or Malware in Images or attachments or Links in the E-Mail that Appear to be Legitimate, can be "Spoofed" and actually Point to a Site that can infect Computer Systems by just going to the Site by Clicking on the Link. It's best to just Ignore these Forwards, unless you can Verify the information and make sure any links, images or attachments are Clean. At the very least, you are opening up yourself and all of your e-mail Buddies to having there e-mail addresses Harvested and used by Spammers, when you send to several people and allow their e-mail addresses to show in the Body of the Forward. Using Bcc (Blind Carbon Copy) will help some in protecting your friends e-mail addresses. I know, it's a pain... but your friends nor you may never know how much trouble you have saved them, by simply using Bcc: instead of just plain old To: Here's more info and Links on these kinds of e-mails...

Don

A hoax. The Postcard from Hallmark virus hoax is a knock-off on the old A Virtual Card for You hoax. It contains many telltale signs of a virus hoax. The Postcard from Hallmark hoax includes a link to a Snopes article which is worded in such a way that it appears the hoax warning is legitimate. It isn't. While greeting card scams do exist, they don't bear any resemblance to what's outlined in the hoax. Following is one example of the Postcard from Hallmark virus hoax:

Example of hoax email:

Read More...
http://antivirus.about.com/od/emailhoaxes/p/postcard.htm

Postcard' or 'Postcard from Hallmark' Virus Hoax

Netlore Archive: False email alert warns of 'the worst virus ever' circulating in the form of an attachment labeled 'POSTCARD' or 'POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK.'

Description: Email hoax
Circulating since: Feb. 2008 (this version)
Status: False, though real e-card viruses do exist

NOTE: Some versions of this hoax claim the information was "verified" on Snopes.com. This is NOT true. What has been verified on Snopes.com is a different e-card virus threat with a similar name. DO beware of phony "Hallmark" (or other) e-card notices — they may indeed carry a real virus. DON'T be confused by the false descriptions in the messages quoted below. Analysis follows.

Example #1:
Email text contributed by Caroline O., June 13, 2008:

Subject: VERY IMPORTANT - BIG VIRUS COMING!!! PLEASE READ & FORWARD !!! http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp Hi All, I checked Snopes (URL above:), and it is for real!! Get this E-mail message sent around to your contacts ASAP. 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, which 'burns' the whole hard disc C of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list. This is the reason why you need to send this e-mail to all your contacts It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it. If you receive a 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. 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. COPY THIS E-MAIL, AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS. REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM, YOU WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US Snopes lists all the names it could come in.

Example #2:
Email text contributed by Jenifer B., Feb. 9, 2008:

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," regardless of who sent it to you. It is a virus which opens A POSTCARD IMAGE, which 'burns' the whole hard disc C of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list. This is the reason why you need to send this e-mail to all your contacts. If you receive a 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. 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 Drive.

Analysis: With so many real viruses in circulation bearing names almost identical to the bogus threats you may read about in hoax messages, it's crucial to know how to distinguish between the real virus threats and the fake ones.

Here are a few points to keep in mind:

1. It's true that there are real viruses, trojans, and other malicious programs currently being distributed by means of fake e-card notices.

These malware-containing emails may arrive under any of dozens of possible headers, for example:

• You've received a Hallmark E-Card!
• You've received a postcard from a family member!
• Colleague sent you a postcard from egreetings.com!
• Birthday e-card

Unfortunately, these do resemble legitimate notices from e-card providers. This means every user needs to be very careful when dealing with such emails, no matter what the apparent source. Before clicking on any links or attachments in the body of such a message, check to see if you can verify that it came from a legitimate source — and that isn't always easy. If you can't verify, don't click!

Don't click on links or attachments in e-card notices that arrive anonymously, or from senders whose names you don't recognize.

Don't click on attachments or links that seem suspicious in any other way.

2. Generally speaking, forwarded email warnings such as the 'POSTCARD' alerts above cannot be trusted to provide accurate information.

Read carefully! Try not to confuse hoax warnings with the real thing. Bogus virus alerts often contain links to websites which, at first glance, may seem to confirm the authenticity of the message, but which in fact discuss a completely different matter.

The very message we're discussing happens to be a case in point. Despite the fact that there are real e-card viruses out there, the "POSTCARD" warning above is, in fact, a hoax. It is simply the newest of many variants of a false alert that began circulating several years ago (compare the texts and you'll see what I mean).

Therefore, don't depend on this type of alert for protection, and avoid forwarding such messages to others unless you can confirm with some certainty that the threat they describe is real.

3. Protecting yourself from real virus and trojan threats entails a few simple but critical measures. Follow them religiously:

1. Always be very careful concerning which attachments you open and which files you download. If you can't be reasonably sure they are safe, don't open or download them.
2. Maintain up-to-date antivirus software on your computer, configure it to detect trojan horses and other malware automatically, and scan for viruses and other threats regularly.
3. Always be careful concerning which links you choose to click, especially in messages from anonymous or unfamiliar sources. Clicking on these links can instantly download malicious software onto your computer. Again, if you can't be reasonably sure a link is safe, don't click on it.

See also: "Olympic Torch" Virus Warning, another version of this hoax.

Share This Article

Sources and further reading:

FBI: E-Valentines May Not Be So Sweet
UPI, 12 February 2008

Hoax Encyclopedia: A Virtual Card for You
"Hoaxes are a waste of both time and money. Please don't forward them on to others."

Computer Virus Hoaxes
Index and resources from About.com

Last updated: 11/17/10

Go there...
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_postcard_virus.htm

Postcard Image Virus Hoax

Outline
Warning message claims that an email with an attachment entitled "POSTCARD" or "POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK" will destroy the hard drive of the infected computer and has been classified as the most destructive virus ever.



Brief Analysis
This warning is a hoax but is causing confusion because it includes a link to information about a genuine but totally unrelated virus. (Please read Detailed Analysis below for further information)

Detailed analysis and references below example.
Read more...
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/postcard-virus-hoax.shtml

Internet E-Mail Hoaxes

Do not open any message with an attachment entitled POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK - Google Search

snopes.com: 'Hallmark Postcard from a Family Member' virus

'Postcard' or 'Hallmark Postcard' Virus Hoax - Urban Legends

Postcard from Hallmark Virus Hoax

Postcard Image Virus Hoax

"A Card for You", "Virtual Card For You", or "Postcard" Virus Warning or hoax-Fiction! & Truth!

Olympic Torch (virus hoax) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Postcard from Hallmark Virus Warning.

hoaxkill.com - Google Search

HoaxKill.com - AboutUs Wiki Page

The Hoaxkill service: Let's get rid of hoaxes now!

hoaxkill.com

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Don

On 12/03/2010 11:01 AM, Janet wrote:

Janet --- On Fri, 12/3/10, Sallie wrote: From: Sallie Hughes <sallieph@gmail.com> Subject: Fwd: Virus Notice To: A Very long List of E-Mail address was here and I deleted them for the peoples Privacy...  Date: Friday, December 3, 2010, 8:34 AM ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Anita Date: Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 11:14 PM Subject: Virus Notice To: Anita Virus Notice VIRUS COMING ! Hi All, I checked with Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus! I checked Snopes, and it is for real. Get this E-mail message sent around to your contacts ASAP. 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, which 'burns' the whole hard disc C of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list. This is the reason why you need to send this e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it. If you receive a 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. 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.