It seems that every month another person sends me an email warning that they received from a friend. Wow betide us - if I'm not careful, and listen very carefully to what is being said in the email, all will be lost. My files will be wiped and my PC will probably burst in to flames as I descend in to hell......Anyway - seriously, this is how you spot if an email 'warning' is real or not!
First of all, fake warnings are nearly always overly dramatic. The subject may be something like this:
FW: URGENT - URGENT (Not a joke)
Content wise, they will nearly always tell you to forward on the message, and will then try to substantiate their bold claims by saying that the information has arrived directly from 'Microsoft' or AOL.
Well, Microsoft don't randomly put information out like that - they don't shout about risks (and therefore publicise the issue to the bad people out there who will exploit them) - and instead produce fixes for them, which assuming you have automatic updates turned on (you do, don't you???) will automatically install on your PC.
A typical message will be like this:
> PASS IT ON IMMEDIATELY! > PLEASE SEND A COPY OF THIS E-MAIL TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS, And ask them to > > The virus has been created by a hacker who calls himself 'life owner'.. >
OK - here's the first give away - asking you to forward it on.
> This is a new virus which started to circulate on Saturday afternoon. AOL has already confirmed the severity, and the anti virus software's are not capable of destroying it .
Since when have AOL confirmed the severity of a virus? They provide connectivity - they're in ISP!
> > And the person wh o sent it to you will gain access to your name, e-mail and password. > Subsequently you will LOSE EVERYTHING IN YOUR PC, > > If you open either file, a message will appear on your screen saying: 'It is too late now, your life is no longer beautiful.'
Very dramatic - they're trying to scare you. Modern virus makers try to use your PC to make money - they take over part of it and use it to send spam emails typically. So why would they want to 'kill it'? Also - if your PC has been killed - how would the virus have been sent on?
> > Anyone-using Internet mail such as Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL and so on. This information arrived this morning, Direct from both Microsoft and Norton. Please send it to everybody you know who has access to the Intern et. You may receive an apparently harmless e-mail titled 'Mail Server Report'
Now, this dates it. Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL and so on - but no mention of Google?? Remember when Yahoo was the big online player? Yes - the late 90's...... that's how long this particular email has been circulating!
> > TELL EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY ON YOUR LIST ADDS HIM THEN YOU WILL GET HIM ON YOUR LIST. HE WILL FIGURE OUT YOUR ID COMPUTER ADDRESS, SO COPY AND PASTE THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE EVEN IF YOU DONT CARE FOR THEM AND FAST BECAUSE IF HE HACKS THEIR EMAIL HE HACKS YOUR MAIL TOO!!!!!.... > > IF A PERSON CALLED SIMON ASHTON ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) CONTACTS YOU THROUGH EMAIL DON'T OPEN THE MESSAGE. DELETE IT BECAUSE HE IS A HACKER!! > THIS IS NO JOKE
The final scare - pass it on pass it on.....!
How do you check if it is a scam or not?
Well, if the content doesn't give it away, just Google a bit of it. Pop something unique in to quotes, and pop it in to Google.
eg Google "IF A PERSON CALLED SIMON ASHTON ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )" and you will get around 2500 pages telling you that it is a hoax. Take a read of:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/simon25-hacker-hoax.shtml
So.....generally email warnings are a waste of time. If in doubt, send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will let you know if they are real or not.
People do them for a kick - they're like chain letters of old.
Cheers for now,
H.
