[IMPORTANT] NEW VIRUS

My mam has just received an email from her work with the following information.

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Dear Whoever this may concern,

We have just received word from out IT staff that are some new threats on the internet that will destroy your computer and infiltrate your files and passwords, The threats are viruses that are sent to your via email.

The first one I am going to tell you about is the least harmful. There is an email going around about the death of Osama Bin Laden. The email is said to contain a picture of him been hung (even though he was shot). The picture IS NOT REAL and is in fact a virus that will search though your files and steal any password / bank details you have stored on the internet or file. If you receive the email please handle it with EXTREME CARE as if you open it, you will receive the virus. If the email is not opened after a period of 1 week it will open automatically. So be sure to remove any trace of the email.

The next one is the worse. If you receive and email titled 'Invitation' FROM ANY OF YOUR CONTACTS EMAILS (by this we mean it could be sent from any email even your husbands). The virus you will receive from this is knows as 'The Olympic torch' and will burn ALL of your files from your C drive. This file will also open after a period of one week.

These new threats were discovered my McAfee yesterday and there is no way of stopping them as of yet. so PLEASE! be careful. You have been warned.

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Yeh, Take extreme caution when checking your emails guys.

Edited by Catz (Forum Super Moderator): Thread moved from 'Habbox Staff ' to here probably more suitable

Haven't come across these yet but thanks for letting us know Rhys, +rep.

I'm sure that Osama Bin Laden one was on facebook, loads of people were posting it on peoples pages.

Not Criticising you of this Rhys as you said it was emailed, but in the email it said;

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If the email is not opened after a period of 1 week it will open automatically. So be sure to remove any trace of the email.

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Im not exactly sure a email can open itself automatically unless its a shell? even then im not sure it will happen.

But thanks for informing us Rhys =].

My mam just received the email, so I thought I'd tell you. I was also wondering if that bit was true. :P

and your welcome guys!

Thanks for letting us know.

Thanks for the heads up! +Rep

i dont think its real but thanks nevertheless,

i get loads of emails that my grandparents forward on thinking they are telling me about a new virus bless em ;p

no ideas if its true or not but never the less
checks my emails LMFAO* kay cheers +rep

thanks for this :)

Thanks for telling :)

thanks, i check my email's everyday & luckily haven't come across these. +rep

Apart from that IT technicians awful spelling and grammar... Thanks for the heads up!

Thanks Rhys :) +Rep

Thanks and I hope I won't get those emails.

I re-wrote it :P

So uh practise the absolute minimum internet security practises?

This thread is ridiculous LMAO. That is either not an IT Technician, or he should be fired, now. In fact no, he should have been fired 6 weeks ago.


http://cdn.davesdaily.com/pictures/557-lol.jpg

you missed the part on that email that said

"Download the file below to scan your computer for these viruses"

:P

I think I am safe ;)

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Originally Posted by HotelUser

I think I am safe ;)

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I was going to suggest you say that, but you did anyway lol

I think every Windows user who have an active anti-virus is too ;)

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Originally Posted by Marketing

I was going to suggest you say that, but you did anyway lol

I think every Windows user who have an active anti-virus is too ;)

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Yes, they should be!

Thanks for this although this is an old process - each month new emails and stuff are sent out with stuff in the headlines that people want to know e.g. world cup there was a lot of dodgy emails for people trying to watch and buy tickets.

I often get emails telling me my bank has been temporary blocked and I need to login to unblock it. The funny thing is most of these are from a bank I'm not with lmao - they send them out to multiple people in the hope that some people from that bank will access it login and then their passwords will be stolen and money to.

If you get an email from someone you don't know with links never open them unless your sure its safe. A lot of emails hide stuff - the most common is putting a link url as text with another url behind it e.g. www.halifax.co.uk is in fact text with the hyperlink being www.scamsite.co.uk

Also if friends send emails to you with just a link its often a scam as a lot of people are having their email accounts phished which in turn sends out lots of emails to their contacts.

Saw this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Torch_(virus_hoax)

Urgh, this warning reminds me of the days any little scare drummed fear into the lives of any school pupil and anyone working with computers like IT staff and office workers. You have nothing to fear, provided you have common sense and do not download any attachments in an email. If you don't recognise the email address, the writing (which is usually scrambled), then don't open the email and learn how you might be pregnant with sithilus and in dyer need of penis enlargement.

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Originally Posted by HotelUser

I think I am safe ;)

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Still only security through obscurity.. just you wait.

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Originally Posted by Chippiewill

Still only security through obscurity.. just you wait.

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No, there's less viruses for the Mac, and I don't download crap. Mostly due to the later I am safe.

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Originally Posted by HotelUser

No, there's less viruses for the Mac, and I don't download crap. Mostly due to the later I am safe.

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Yes... hence security through obscurity... Windows is more secure because MS is more inclined to patch their OS.

I highly doubt the virus can open itself.

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Originally Posted by Recursion

Yes... hence security through obscurity... Windows is more secure because MS is more inclined to patch their OS.

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Read the last sentence of my post again.

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Originally Posted by HotelUser

No, there's less viruses for the Mac

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/facepalm, that's what security through obscurity means. Macs are always first to get hacked at security expos.

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, and I don't download crap. Mostly due to the later I am safe.

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Most people are safe then, it's only the idiots who really think they're really the millionth visitor.

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I highly doubt the virus can open itself.

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Unless they're using a REALLY old version of outlook.

A lot of mac users think their mac is invincible and because of this a lot of users end up using unsafe techniques.

Window is a more used operating system and so has more virus developers, scammers etc. I'd love to see those who call it invincible see a lot of new viruses come out and realise nothing is invincible. It's like the word unsinkable - the titanic.

And I'm not a fan boy. I do use Windows more, but do also use Macs and don't like how its painted as invincible, when the truth is both Windows and Macs have flaws.

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Originally Posted by peteyt

And I'm not a fan boy. I do use Windows more, but do also use Macs and don't like how its painted as invincible, when the truth is both Windows and Macs have flaws.

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I like the fact it is painted as invincible, it means when it all goes wrong Jobs and any other Mac person who prays to these idols get mocked :P Besides, without this false advertising I wouldn't have a suitable subject for half of my business and law assignments :P

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Originally Posted by Chippiewill

/facepalm, that's what security through obscurity means. Macs are always first to get hacked at security expos.


Most people are safe then, it's only the idiots who really think they're really the millionth visitor.


Unless they're using a REALLY old version of outlook.

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My mac isn't invincible and if you think I think that you are incorrect. There are less viruses for OS X than there are Windows. Fact. People don't decide to target 10% of people when they can target 90% on Windows. Yes I can still catch a virus on my Mac but it is quite unlikely because I don't download many third party applications and the ones I do have such as Chrome, Adium, Trillian, Xampp, Grooveshark are pretty darn safe.

To elaborate onto what you said in reply to the person you quoted at the bottom (you never left their name) you're right about outlook, another vulnerability was autorun on flash disks.

What I am saying is, if you believe I have the same chances of getting a virus on OS X that I do on Windows, when I use both an equal amount of time then you sir are absolutely wrong.

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Originally Posted by HotelUser

My mac isn't invincible and if you think I think that you are incorrect. There are less viruses for OS X than there are Windows. Fact. People don't decide to target 10% of people when they can target 90% on Windows. Yes I can still catch a virus on my Mac but it is quite unlikely because I don't download many third party applications and the ones I do have such as Chrome, Adium, Trillian, Xampp, Grooveshark are pretty darn safe.

To elaborate onto what you said in reply to the person you quoted at the bottom (you never left their name) you're right about outlook, another vulnerability was autorun on flash disks.

What I am saying is, if you believe I have the same chances of getting a virus on OS X that I do on Windows, when I use both an equal amount of time then you sir are absolutely wrong.

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As the number of viruses for Macs start to increase, Apple won't be in a position to patch them nearly as quickly as Windows, in fact, has Apple patched any exploits for Macs recently?

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Originally Posted by Recursion

As the number of viruses for Macs start to increase, Apple won't be in a position to patch them nearly as quickly as Windows, in fact, has Apple patched any exploits for Macs recently?

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http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1222 You make it sound like there haven't been any fixes in a year, but you are dead wrong.

As/if OS X gains popularity (which also means Windows would have to lose it) there will be more viruses yes. At the moment there are not very many. So I will simply copy and paste from my last post because you've said nothing to disprove it and because I could hardly care less what you think here because the only reason you're replying to me as you are is because I'm saying something positive about OS X. If I were to say something positive about Windows you wouldn't say a thing :)

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Originally Posted by HotelUser

My mac isn't invincible and if you think I think that you are incorrect. There are less viruses for OS X than there are Windows. Fact. People don't decide to target 10% of people when they can target 90% on Windows. Yes I can still catch a virus on my Mac but it is quite unlikely because I don't download many third party applications and the ones I do have such as Chrome, Adium, Trillian, Xampp, Grooveshark are pretty darn safe.

What I am saying is, if you believe I have the same chances of getting a virus on OS X that I do on Windows, when I use both an equal amount of time then you sir are absolutely wrong.

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Re-refer to bold bits

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Originally Posted by HotelUser

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1222 You make it sound like there haven't been any fixes in a year, but you are dead wrong.

As/if OS X gains popularity (which also means Windows would have to lose it) there will be more viruses yes. At the moment there are not very many. So I will simply copy and paste from my last post because you've said nothing to disprove it and because I could hardly care less what you think here because the only reason you're replying to me as you are is because I'm saying something positive about OS X. If I were to say something positive about Windows you wouldn't say a thing :)



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Have to agree. At least he is admitting Mac's aren't perfect. So many Windows users criticise Mac's and then paint Windows to be perfect and vice versa. I'm in the middle.