The AIDS Computer Virus
Here's the latest mutation of a venerable computer virus hoax, although clearly its intent is more satirical than subversive. The basic idea is that simply by opening an email you will unleash a horrible virus that will destroy your computer – even the hardware. Read on:
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There is a virus out now being sent to people via email...it is called the A.I.D.S. VIRUS. It will destroy your memory, sound card and speakers, hard drive and it will infect your mouse or pointing device..as well as your keyboards making what you type not able to register on the screen. It self terminates only after it eats 5MB of hard drive space & will delete all programs. It will come via E-mail called "OPEN: VERY COOL! :)". Delete it immediately!! It will basically render your computer useless. PASS IT ON QUICKLY & TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE!! THANKS!! :-) >> |
Nonsense. First of all, with rare exceptions, simply reading an email message cannot execute a virus program on your computer. Second of all, viruses cannot attack your hardware.
Here's an earlier version of the message:
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THEREE IS A VIRUS GOING AROUND CALLED THE A.I.D.S VIRUS. IT WILL ATTACH ITSELF INSIDE YOUR COMPUTER AND EAT AWAY AT YOUR MEMORY THIS MEMORY IS IRREPLACEABLE. THEN WHEN IT'S FINISHED WITH MEMORY IT INFECTS YOUR MOUSE OR POINTING DEVICE. THEN IT GOES TO YOUR KEY BOARD AND THE LETTERS YOU TYPE WILLNOT REGISTER ON SCREEN. BEFORE IT SELF TERMINATES IT EATS 5MB OF HARD DRIVE SPACE AND WILL DELETE ALL PROGRAMS ON IT AND IT CAN SHUT DOWN ANY 8 BIT TO 16 BIT SOUND CARDS RENDERING YOUR SPEAKERS USELESS. IT WILL COME IN E-MAIL CALLED "OPEN:VERY COOL! :) DELETE IT RIGHT AWAY. THIS VIRUS WILL BASICLY RENDER YOUR COMPUTER USELESS. YOU MUST PASS THIS ON QUICKLY AND TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSLE!!!!! YOU MUST! |
Rule of thumb: In virtually every case, emailed warnings and alerts which contain a sentence like "You must pass this on to everyone you know!" are hoaxes. Further reasons to be suspicious: the message is unsigned; it offers no references to back up its claims, nor any way for recipients to authenticate the information; its tone is hysterical, its purpose is to frighten recipients into replicating the message.
For reliable information on this and other computer virus hoaxes, visit the U.S. Dept. of Energy's CIAC Website (Computer Incident Advisory Capability).
