Circulating Since: October 2001
Status: False
Summary: Forwarded virus alerts (examples below) warn users not to open any message entitled "WTC Survivor"
Analysis: Ignore these warnings. According to every major antivirus lab, the so-called "WTC Survivor Virus" doesn't exist; these messages are hoaxes.
The bogus alerts began circulating roughly a month after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York. As in the case of the immortal Budweiser Frogs virus warnings (which are also false), it's likely that this prank was created in reaction to widely forwarded emails of the same name — in this instance, containing miraculous or near-miraculous 9/11 survival stories in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy.
Examples:
Email example contributed by Cathy, 9 Nov 2001:
Subject: Virus alertBIGGGG TROUBLE !!!! DO NOT OPEN "WTC Survivor" It is a virus that will erase your whole "C" drive. It will come to you in the form of an E-mail from a familiar person. I repeat a friend sent it to me, but called and warned me before I opened it. He was not so lucky and now he can't even start his computer! Forward this to everyone in your address book. I would rather receive this 25 times than not at all. If you receive an email called "WTC Survivor" do not open it. Delete it right away! This virus removes all dynamic link libraries (.dll files) from your computer.
Email example contributed by H. Hoffman, 14 Nov 2001:
Subject: Virus AlertDO NOT OPEN ANY EMAIL LISTED WITH THE SUBJECT OF "WTC Survivor"
It is a virus that will erase your whole "C" drive.
It will come to you in the form of an E-Mail from a familiar person. If you receive an email called "WTC Survivor" do not open it Delete it right away! This virus removes all dynamic link libraries (.dll files) from your computer.
Last updated: 01/10/03
