AdminXP.com: Hoax

Hoax

A hoax or in other words an alarming message containing false information in order to disorient or even harm users.
The hoaxes are not only notices of some viruses but also of illnesses or other tragedies. Their task is to flood or overburden mail servers, which also happens thanks undisciplined users.

SULFNBK.EXE

At present, an alarming message about sulfnbk.exe virus spreads out. This message has following features:
it warns users against a new virus that cannot be detected by any recent programs.
it persuades users that this piece of information comes from a reliable source (USA, Francie, CNN, FBI, IBM, Microsoft, Symantec,...)
it describes the virus briefly and realistically. But, which user will verify if this is really true? Especially, when the author of the message graphically depict how the user loses his data, disk, the whole computer, or even that the disk can explode.....
it urge the users to send and warn all friends and other people (there is a huge number of users who really send this e-mail to other users) - and so a spam is born - its result can be overburdened mail servers and an eduction of some due consequences from the mail server administrators (it is really not fine to get the same e-mail with such untrue information from dozens of users; in case of less experienced users it is quite understandable, but losing of time in consequence of these messages is unwelcome - then, the experienced users complain about the users´ trust and do not like seeing this - therefore the mass messages sending is forbidden or they can be only send by some selected users).

One of many versions of this hoax:

ALERT ALERT ALERT

Subject: Alerte VIRUS - Humli - ALERT!!!

Hallo everybody.
Please pay your attention to this message: we have received a message from France about a new virus. Please follow the instructions listed below.

We found out that we were infected by a virus that cannot be detected by any antivirus program. You probably have it on your PC, too!!
The "FNBK" virus may be stored on you hard disk, but may not be active. This virus is programed not to be activated at once. It has a latency period and cannot be detected by any detection programs designed for searching viruses (McAfee or Norton).
Unfortunately, nobody knows how long the virus has been waiting in the system. It is possible that it has been existing for several months there. This virus becomes active after you start it, then it deletes all folders and files on your hard disk. The virus is distributed per e-mail and attacks the ´C:/WINDOWS/COMMAND´ file.
Please pay your attention to the following instructions and do what they say:
1) In the Start menu choose "SEARCH"
2) Then choose "FILES AND FOLDERS"
3) Then, in the "SEARCH IN" menu choose "HARD DISK (C:)"
4) Write to the text field for the "NAME OF THE SEARCHED ITEM OR FILE": "SULFNBK.EXE"
If you find the virus, DO NOT OPEN IT!!!
5) without opening it, go to the "EDIT" menu
6) choose "SELECT ALL"
7) then, go to the "FILE" menu and click on "REMOVE"
8) close the window with "search results" and empty the bin
The good new is that now you are secured.
The bad new is that if you have found this virus on your computer, there is a danger that you probably "infected" all persons you are in the "e-mail contact" with, for several months back. Please contact everyone in your address book and send this message immediately to all of them.

The Sulfnbk.exe file is a system file which is absolutely not recommended to be deleted!
By spreading out and following the instructions in this message you cause more harm than benefit to you and other users!

Advice:

Not all information contained in the electronic mail must be true. In case you get such message it is advisable to ask some more experienced and not to hastily send the message to other users.
Experienced users can examine the hoax lists or to turn to a firm working in the field of viruses or to a reliable source that can verify the message.