A virus warning is probably on its way to your inbox, claiming to be from a credible source and warning you of a dangerous virus on the loose. Beware, you might be tricked into taking part in an Internet hoax - chain mail virus alerts.
Written like a chain letter, one virus hoax - making the rounds once again on the Internet - claims to be warning users of a new virus called "Kali". The email states that reading a message with "Let's Watch TV" in the subject line will spread a virus to your PC, even though there is no such virus.
This particular email mascarades as a report from Internet Service Provider AOL. The email states that the virus is very dangerous, "much worse than Melissa". It also warns the reader that there is no remedy for it at this time.
"AOL would never send a mass email to alert people of a virus. We'd use our service to educate people about viruses," an AOL spokesperson told ZDNet.
The email ends with "pass this warning along to EVERYONE in your address book...., so that this threat may be stopped."
Branded as more dangerous than a real virus, anti-virus vendor Trend Micro Australia says there are three ways to recognise a hoax.
The email always warns of a new virus and claims to be from a credible source. It also tells you to forward the message to friends.
"The real danger is that these sorts of hoaxes can create panic," Trend Micro Australia Marketing Manager Andy Liou said.
In the past some very large companies and governmental agencies have fallen for similar hoaxes, a report by computer software research company Stiller Research revealed.
Desensitising
Hoaxes such as "Kali" also contribute to SPAM, and can lower [a users] resistance to viruses.
"You can fall into a trap that all viruses are fake," Liou said.
Virus hoaxes are written just like a chain mail, which Liou said are usually from people trying to see how far it can go.
"It's a bit of a fame grab."
Even old hoaxes, which have been around for years, can make the rounds again, according to Trend Micro.
"There are a number of new hoaxes because they are so easy to write, you don't need to be a programmer," he said.
