Is It A Virus Or A Hoax
Posted on August 8, 2010Everyone who has an ISP, understands, or at least knows about how hackers use viruses, Trojans and other web nasties, to infect and mess up your computer. No headline news there. (Unfortunately, we still don’t understand why they do it, or at least I don’t.) But hackers don’t have to write malicious code or hijack your browser to do some serious damage to your system. Oh no… A well written email with no attachments, can do the trick. They only have to start a rumor.
Hackers can easily manipulate you into trashing your own computer. All they have to do is begin a hoax.
What do I mean by that? Let me explain.
Ahem
Have you ever gotten emails from people you know that say something like: Scan your hard drive for such and such a file! If you find it delete it immediately! Pass this on. Warn everyone you know!
These emails are originally generated by a hacker and spread throughout the Internet to get you to delete files you need, thus creating havoc for your system. They are hoaxes.
Hoaxes work incredibly well for getting average people to cause their own computers to malfunction. the hacker doesn’t have to spend any time creating malicious code and a method of distribution, all they have to do is play on the human tendency for hysteria; send out a warning that something evil is spreading, and if you find it on your computer, get rid of it!
Recently I was tracking a thread on a forum, where the moderator warned everyone about a file that he found on his system that was a keylogger. (A keylogger is a malicious program designed to track your every move through monitoring your keystrokes.) He warned everyone to search for a file, ans2000.ini and, “delete the parasite.”
I scan my system every day, with several different virus/ spyware programs, and I never picked up this file with any of them, so I decided to do a Windows Explorer search for it. Sure enough, I found it on my hard drive. Oh My!
Before hitting the delete key though, I looked it up on the web. I Googled the specific file and found quite a bit of information on it. The file ans2000.ini is used in the keylogger program known as ProBot SE. However, it is also used in many other legitimate programs as well. Ok, so now what do I do?
Well, I being a tech guru decided to open the ini file, in Notepad, and read it. Sure enough, this file did have an association to another program on my system. It is part of ActivEbook Compiler. It was right there in print, at the top of the file.
Now had I just freaked out when I found the file, and deleted the parasite, I would’ve trashed my ebook compiler, making it useless to me. Two points for the hacker who started the hoax!
Hoaxes are just as dangerous as live viruses, because they inspire you to destroy your own programs. I am sure they are a particular kick for the one starting the hoax, as they are getting you to do bad things to your own system. Fear is a powerful motivator, and hoaxes, by design, are created to cause panic and fear in the less experienced Internet traveler.
So, before going and deleting files from your hard drive, go check them out or ask me… Do a google search for them and read the information you find. Don’t just go deleting things without learning about them first, or you just may end up cutting your own throat. And, NEVER forward these types of warning emails to others until you know for a fact that the information is correct, or you’re likely to have your friends and family after you for misinforming them.
think before you oops
Another thing to watch out for in emails are scams:
Scams are illegal schemes that are operated and run through the Internet. The scammers send legitimate-seeming email messages to random email addresses. The content of the email varies but the object is the same: to separate gullible people from their money.
Some email messages tell the recipient that they have won a very large prize in an international raffle. The scammer may use the name and logo of an internationally recognizable institution. There would usually be a deadline for claiming prizes, a contact number and, later on, demands of money for opening an account, paying taxes, bank service charges, etc.
There are also email scams that ask the recipient for help in transferring a large amount of money into a bank account in exchange for a very generous commission. The sender masquerades as a wealthy philanthropist, a bank manager, etc. who merely wishes to honor the deceased owner’s wish (or his wish, if the sender is supposedly the owner) that money be transferred to an overseas bank account so that a son can be sent to hospital or so that the authorities won’t be able to get their hands.
Tell-tale signs for scam emails are when they ask you to deposit a large sum of money into their account, if he had the money in the first place – why would he ask you for it?
Resources for validating virus/ hoax/ scam information:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/
http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp
http://www.vmyths.com/
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
http://www.f-secure.com/virus-info/hoax/
Tags: Hackers, hoax, Trojans and other web nasties, viruses
Categories: Hacking
Is It A Virus Or A Hoax -> http://is.gd/eNc1Y
31.08.2010 10:57
wassup, im seriously impressed with this site but the other links arent working. You might wanna check your site in IE 7 cuz you know that browser acts up sometimes.
03.09.2010 02:53
wow, im really digging your post but i cant see your other posts. You might wanna check your site in opera cuz you know that browser is prone to errors sometimes.
03.09.2010 11:00
hey, I usually dont read these types of articles cuz I think the industry is falling off but im feeling this so im gonna send a link to my email list thank you.
07.09.2010 01:00
A friend in need is a friend indeed
06.11.2010 03:05
Never knew this, thanks for letting me know.
15.01.2011 11:03
Have your thought on adding various social bookmark buttons on the road to your website web page? At least tally one for Digg so we can digg you up!
20.01.2011 17:24
If you could email me with a number of hints & tips on top of how you made your site webpage look this cool, I would appreciate it!
21.01.2011 11:57
Do all the things proper, think about all the pieces you are making. All the time be able to have an answer as to why you probably did or did not do something. . — Confucius
21.01.2011 18:08
Interesting, it is always best to think before doing things.
23.01.2011 11:59
I used a plugin called Mobius http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/mbius
23.01.2011 12:01
On the subject of digg and tweet buttons
They are there, they are awaiting anyone’s use
23.01.2011 12:09
you are my inhalation , I possess few web logs and very sporadically run out from to brand : (.
25.01.2011 06:06
Not sure if anyone will know anything about this or not but my friend happens to be in the middle of a chapter 13 personal bankruptcy but is struggling with the monthly payments and she has had enough so wants to switch to chapter 7 in which you liquidize all your assets.
Is it possible? If so how do you attempt carrying it out? Ive told her to speak with a lawyer and to find the proper chapter 7 bankruptcy forms but she wanted me to ask all-around on the web first so i’m sorry if this is inappropriate to any individual but you never know who’s studying this page.
Many thanks x
26.01.2011 19:54