Virus & Hoax Info Page
Updated Weekly

What is a Virus? - What is a Hoax?

A virus is a parasitic program written to intentionally enter a computer, without the user's permission or knowledge, and destroy or corrupt data and sometimes hardware. The virus attaches to files or boot sectors (the portion of your hard drive/floppy disk containing your system start-up information) and replicates itself, and thereby spreading. Though some viruses basically only replicate themselves, others can cause serious damage or affect program and system performance. Viruses most commonly cause minor damage to specific files, causing "strange things" and errors to occur. However, you should never assume a virus is harmless and left on your computer. If your system is behaving strangely, or performance seems to be poor, always scan your systems for viruses with AN UP-TO-DATE virus scanning program. NOTICE:

Partial List of Known Hoaxes

--> 1999.07.30   Hallmark Greeting Card hoax 
--> 1999.07.30   Cancer chain letter 
--> 1999.07.30   Macro Virus from Microsoft hoax 
--> 1999.07.30   Red Alert 
--> 1999.07.30   Microsoft E-Mail Tracking System hoax 
--> 1999.07.30   Frog and Fish warnings 
--> 1999.07.30   How to Give a Cat a Colonic hoax 
--> 1999.07.30   Wobbler virus hoax 
--> 1999.07.30   Free Gap Clothes 
--> 1999.07.23   Email Bomb warning 
--> 1999.07.22   Night Kiss Greeting Card hoax 
--> 1999.07.22   Free Computer Equipment hoax 
--> 1999.07.16   AOL4FREE 
--> 1999.07.13   Microsoft 
--> 1999.07.13   Penpal greetings 
--> 1999.07.13   Win a holiday 
--> 1999.07.13   Join the club 
--> 1999.07.13   Good Times 
--> 1999.07.09   Meme 
--> 1999.07.08   Deeyenda Maddick 
--> 1999.07.08   YUKON3U.mp 
--> 1999.07.05   YUKON3U.MP hoax 
--> 1999.07.05   WIN A HOLIDAY hoax 
--> 1999.07.05   Turkey Mail 
--> 1999.07.05   Topanga 
--> 1999.07.05   Grammar Bug 
--> 1999.07.05   SHEEP.EXE 
--> 1999.07.05   Sassy 

 
 --> 1999.07.05   Sandman
--> 1999.07.05  Unable to Deliver
--> 1999.07.05  PK14 hoax
--> 1999.07.05  Penpal Greetings
--> 1999.07.05  NaughtyRobot hoax
--> 1999.07.05  NATO Virus hoax
--> 1999.07.05  National Banks
--> 1999.07.05  NastyFriend
--> 1999.07.05  MP3 Virus
--> 1999.07.05  MIME FORMAT hoax
--> 1999.07.05  Meme hoax
--> 1999.07.05  Matra
--> 1999.07.05  Londhouse hoax
--> 1999.07.05  Join the Crew
--> 1999.07.05  Jesus
--> 1999.07.05  IDNYSTE$$.FYI
--> 1999.07.05  Independence hoax
--> 1999.07.05  Poor Dog
--> 1999.07.05  Product Warning
--> 1999.07.05  Hacky B-Day
--> 1999.07.05  Hackingburgh
--> 1999.07.05  Hacker Riot

Hoax warnings are typically scare alerts started by malicious people - and passed on by innocent users who think they are helping others by spreading the warning.

Do not forward hoax messages. We've seen cases where e-mail servers have collapsed after dozens of users forwarded a false alert to everybody they know. Users can get rid of the hoax problem by simply not forwarding virus alarms. Ever.It's not the job of an end user anyway. If such a message is received, users could forward it to the hostmaster but not to anyone else. The Hostmaster will investigate and if it's a real virus can and will broadcast the alert to EVERYONE in the system

NEWS - Lately a lot of virus's that come in through email attachments have made the news.These virus's MUST be in an .exe ( executable ) attachment and then be opened before they can do their dirty work. If you get an .exe mail attachment do not open and run it unless you have a good UPDATED virus program on your machine.

NOTE: .jpg .bmp .gif files are PICTURES and they can be safely opened. Virus's cannot attach to picture files.

For UP TO THE MINUTE  info on Virus & Hoaxes, check out ::::

Symantec's Anti-Virus Research Center

Every server checks for Virus's.The chances of a Virus getting through every server it encounters and winding up in your computer is Very, Very small. Around a 45 million to 1 chance.  On the other hand, the chances of getting a virus from a floppy disk, that your friend loaned you (attached to that neat new screen saver) is quite high and the most likely place you will get a Virus. Always scan floppies for Virus's before downloading any program from it. MAIL SERVERS ARE NOT EFFICIENT CATCHING VIRUS'S BECAUSE OF THE SHEAR VOLUME OF FILES COMING THROUGH THE SYSTEM. IF EVERY FILE WERE CHECKED (ATTACHMENTS) IN THE MAIL SERVER EXTREME DELIVERY DELAYS WOULD RESULT. (HOURS OR DAYS)

MORE INFO

NOTE: We highly recommend "Dr Solomans" virus protection software. ( We use it ) It is consistently rated # 1. Dr Soloman's is available at Hastings in Midland & Odessa for around $68.00 It should also be readily available from Best Buy and Circuit City, Office Depot etc. or any good software store.You can also order it online. Don't be tempted to use "NON-Registered" or expired "demo" software. Virus protect software that cannot be updated frequently ( registered users only ) is next to worthless as over 200 new virus's are detected and documented every week.

Cookies  simply cannot carry a virus period. They are text files and Virus's must be attached to binary files for them to do their dirty work and propagate. E-mail is text and cannot carry a virus, but binary attachments to E-Mail can. E-Mail is typically relayed 8 to 12 times before it reaches it's destination. Most of the relay points check for Virus's. Then your own machine should make a final check when an attachment is received.

BE ADVISED:   Because of the nature of virus transmission we cannot and will not be responsible in any way for any virus you may get through ICQ, Email, Floppy disk or other means. The running of an updated, registered, Virus protection program is YOUR responsibility and we are NOT responsible for any virus problem you may incur through use of the Internet or ANY other means.