Hoax Warnings


	Alphabetical Index

NAME:

Penpal greetings

This is not a virus, but a widespread hoax, warning about a dangerous e-mail message titled 'Penpal greetings'. No such danger exists.

This hoax is very similar to Good Times. See the description of Good Times for more information.

Here's an example of the hoax warning:

   If anyone receives mail entitled: PENPAL GREETINGS! please delete
   it WITHOUT reading it.

   This is a warning for all internet users - there is a dangerous
   virus propogating across the internet through an e-mail message
   entitled "PENPAL GREETINGS!".  DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANY MESSAGE
   ENTITLED "PENPAL GREETINGS!" This message appears to be a
   friendly letter asking you if you are interested in a penpal, but
   by the time you read this letter, it is too late.  The "trojan
   horse" virus will have already infected the boot sector of your
   hard drive, destroying all of the data present.  It is a
   self-replicating virus, and once the message is read, it will
   AUTOMATICALLY forward itself to anyone who's e-mail address is
   present in YOUR mailbox!

   This virus will DESTROY your hard drive, and holds the potential
   to DESTROY the hard drive of anyone whose mail is in your inbox,
   and who's mail is in their inbox, and so on.  If this virus
   remains unchecked, it has the potntial to do a great deal of
   DAMAGE to computer networks worldwide!!!!

   Please, delete the message entitled "PENPAL GREETINGS!" as soon
   as you see it! And pass this message along to all of your friends
   and relatives, and the other readers of the newsgroups and
   mailing lists which you are on, so that they are not hurt by this
   dangerous virus!!!!

There exists another version of this hoax:

 Subject: Fw: Virus Warning

 WARNING Message from IBM

 If you receive an e-mail titled JOIN THE CREW/for PENPALS DO NOT
 open it! It will erase EVERYTHING on your hard drive! Send this
 letter out to as many people as you can. This is a new virus and
 not many people know about it! This information was received
 this morning by IBM.

 Please share it with anyone that might access the internet!!
 PENPAL appears to be a friendly letter asking you if you are
 interested in a penpal, but by the time you read this letter it
 is TOO LATE.   The Trojan horse virus will have already infected
 the boot sector of your hard drive, destroying all the data
 present. It is a self replicating virus, and once the message is
 read it will AUTOMATICALLY forward itself to anyone who's e-mail
 address is present in your box! This virus will destroy your
 hard drive and holds the potential to DESTROY the hard drive of
 anyone whose mail is in your box and whose mail is in their box
 and so on and on! So delete any message title PENPAL or JOIN THE
 CREW. This virus can do major to worldwide networks!

 PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND PEOPLE IN YOUR
 MAILBOXES. AOL HAS SAID THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VIRUS AND THERE
 IS NO REMEDY FOR THIS. FORWARD IT TO ALL YOUR ON-LINE FRIENDS
 A.S.A.P.!

If you receive these messages please don't spread them any further.

[Analysis: Mikko Hypponen, F-Secure]