Virus hoax chart makes grim reading

Daily Newsletters

Sign up to ZDNet UK's daily newsletter.

NEWS
Fuelled by concern over genuine threats such as Klez, Bugbear and Magistr, computer users are continuing to fall for false warnings of non-existent viruses. Anti-virus firm Sophos released details of its latest top ten virus hoaxes on Thursday. These hoaxes typically warn the reader not to open an email with a certain subject line, or to immediately delete a particular file on their hard drive, because they contain a virus. They will also tell the reader to forward the warning to their friends and colleagues. Topping the pile in December 2002, for the eighth successive month, was an email that urged users to delete a legitimate file called JDBGMGR.EXE from their machine. The original version of this hoax claims that this file is a virus spread by MSN Messenger, while a later version claims that deleting it will remove the Bugbear-A worm from a system. Both claims are false, and antivirus experts believe the connection with Bugbear came about because the icon of JDBGMGR.EXE is a small grey teddy bear. The JDBGMGR.EXE email made up 13.7 percent of all hoaxes reported to Sophos in December last year. Most of the other popular hoaxes were false warnings about certain emails or programs, which they claimed were actually viruses. These included a claim that a screensaver based on the Budweiser Frogs was actually a dangerous virus, and another alleging that an email with the subject line "A virtual card for your" contained a virus that would "permanently destroy a hard disk" when opened. Another similar email claimed that a bowling game in which elves were used in place of skittles contained a virus that would strike on Christmas Day. Even though such hoaxes didn't encourage the reader to delete files from their machine, they are harmful because -- by urging that they should be distributed to as many people as possible -- they wastes both time and bandwidth. Even though all the major antivirus companies include information on such hoaxes on their Web sites, users continue to fall for them. At six on the Sophos list is an email that claimed Microsoft was conducting an audit of Hotmail users and that anyone who failed to forward the email on to other Hotmail accounts would see their own account deactivated, as Microsoft would conclude that it was no longer in use. This email was identified as being deceptive as far back as Summer 2001, but it appears many users still haven't got the message about this hoax, or indeed many others. "The JDBGMGR hoax has been at the top of the myth list for eight months and shows no signs of subsiding," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos Anti-Virus in a statement. "The seasonal Elf Bowling hoax about a joke program which shows Santa Claus playing ten pin bowling with elves made a reappearance after a full year away," Cluley added. More details about virus hoaxes can be found here.
For all security-related news, including updates on the latest viruses, hacking exploits and patches, check out ZDNet UK's Security News Section. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Talkback

I paid for a yahoo ten pin championship bowling game by downloading it on the net.after the expiracy,i can no longer delete it on my computer.I check the support info for the ver 1.03212 but i can not find one

via Facebook 2 August, 2004 19:24
Reply

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

GrueMaster

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

29 minutes ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Frederick Wrigley

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

1 hour ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
bdantas

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

2 hours ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

2 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

3 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Moley

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

3 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
ramwellian

Your comments would seem pretty naive and immature. Your 'solution' appears to be, "gee, let's all just give in to the hackers and give them...

4 hours ago by ramwellian on Cloud computing security: no more oxymoron?
BugStalker

"Interesting thought ... If you installed Win7 as a dual boot on a machine that previously only had Linux, and it wrecked your Linux installation,...

4 hours ago by BugStalker on Windows 7 Declares War on GRUB
whs001

This is an excellent summary of Ubuntu and Mint and the interface differences between them. Most such articles take a very partisan position for...

4 hours ago by whs001 on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Moley

@ewallace. Not so clear. Anyone can obtain the text, for example from here http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/2379. I support ACTA so long as it and...

4 hours ago by Moley on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions
45283

I think WinRT is fantastic. I just wish it was an option for people that didn't want to go through Microsoft's App Store with its attendant...

7 hours ago by 45283 on Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA
Burn-IT

Nine people? £30m? Who's back pocket is that lot going in? And IF they say it is for new buildings, what about all the ones the government has...

8 hours ago by Burn-IT on Police set to launch three £30m e-crime hubs
ewallace

Just to be clear, nobody knows what is in the text of ACTA, here is a photograph of the text of ACTA http://twitpic.com/8h9iju as submitted to the...

8 hours ago by ewallace on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions
fgvrg56

Unfortunately main issue is that ASUS is refusing to accept that they make some mistake on this version of asus Transformer prime. 1 - GPS sensor...

10 hours ago by fgvrg56 on Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Wi-Fi & GPS problems?
Ben Woods

@Marcus A fair question. Just talked with Archos which said it was working on an announcement for next week....

11 hours ago by Ben Woods on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule
Marcus Karlsson

Any update on this, considering the claimed "first week of February"?

12 hours ago by Marcus Karlsson via Facebook on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule
apexwm

Bill Goodrich : Just as al_langevin pointed out, with Windows Server 2008 there is no Services for Macintosh anymore. It's gone, not available....

20 hours ago by apexwm on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility
txtrainguy

Replying to an old topic that I'm currently facing with my CEO (who is on a Mac). Our servers are primarily Windows Servers, office is about...

1 day ago by txtrainguy on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility
k0tcs3

Sure, that makes perfect sense. Pay wrong-doers money and thank them for breaching your security and pointing out your flaws, that would surely...

1 day ago by k0tcs3 on US indicts Romanian over NASA climate change hack
Random_Error

I think he's referring specifically to Android apps, as Apple do regulate their App Store, but Google seem to let any old crap onto the Android store!

1 day ago by Random_Error on RIM: BlackBerry will keep 'garbage' apps out of store