Virus warning

[girlofprey]

An email I got today:

>PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING:
>>> >
>>> > You should be alert during the next days:
>>> >
>>> > Do not open any message with an attached file called "Invitation "
>>> > regardless of who sent it, It is a virus that opens an Olympic
Torch
>>which
>>> > "burns" the whole hard disc of your computer.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail
address
>>> > in his/her contact list, that is why you should send this e-mail
to
>>> > all
>>your
>>> > contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than to
>>> > receive the virus and open it.
>>> >
>>> > If you receive a mail called "invitation" , though sent by a
friend,
>>> > do not open it and shut down your computer immediately. This is
the
>>> > worst virus announced, it has been classified by Microsoft as the
>>> > most destructive virus ever.
>>> >
>>> > This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is no
>>> > repair
>>yet
>>> > for this kind of virus. This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector
>>> > of
>>the
>>> > Hard Disc, where the vital information is kept
>>> >
>>> > SEND THIS E-MAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

It might be a fake, but I thought I should post it anyway.

Comments

[whatho.livejournal.com]

That's exciting. But how on earth would shutting down your computer help? Is it in case you get tempted to open the email regardless?

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

In case it...mutates? I don't know. Just in case Something Goes Wrong Somewhere perhaps. Deleting the email seems like it might be a better bet. But then it might have saved somewhere on your hard disk and you might open it accidentally later. I don't know. My only knowledge of viruses comes from Strongbad emails (http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail118.html)

[jekesta]

That's an old hoaxy one, yes.

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/invitation.asp

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

Ahhh. Fair enough then. I'll mention it to the people at work tomorrow. Thanks.

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

We're bascially laughing at my own belief in the email at this point, but yes. It did sound a bit ridiculous when I got it. I just thought I'd post just in case, you know.

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

IT'S OKAY. I should really fix my TECHNOLOGICAL INEPTITUDE at some point.

[girlofprey.livejournal.com]

Look! I got an email about a virus that destroys your computer. The girl at work took it seriously, so I took it seriously. I thought it might be a fake, being 'the most destructive virus ever', but I decided to warn people about it anyway, just in case. But now I will NEVER WARN YOU ALL EVER AGAIN. About anything. Flaming meteors? Approaching psychopaths? No. SO DEAL WITH THAT.

Love you also.