On Mon, 2 Dec 1996, Hisham Khalifa Al Saad wrote:
> Hi members of Firewalls,
>
> I got this Virus alert in my mail box, and by myself i forward it to
> you:
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Hi,
> We just got word that there is a new virus screaming around the
> internet that will wipe out your hard drive if you open the file.
> Here is the word
> they sent us...
>
> "There is a computer virus that is being sent across the internet. If
> you receive an e-mail with a subject line of "Irinia", DO NOT read the
> message.
> Delete it immediately. Some miscreant is sending people files under the
> name of "Irinia". If you receive this file or e-mail, do not download
> it.
> It has a virus that rewrites your hard drive, obliterating anything on
> it.
> Please be careful and forward this e-mail to anyone you care about."
>
> This information was received from Professor Edward Prideaux, College of
> Salvonic Studies, London.
>
> This virus appears to be much more aggressive than the irritating
> Microsoft word virus. Be alert.
>
> ----------------------- END OF ALERT MESSAGE
> ----------------------------------
>
>
Although this is obviously a hoax, it points out an interesting security
weakness. You have, in fact, spread the "virus" by emailing this
"warning" to other people. The "virus" is the panic (or possible panic)
caused by such a warning. Proving once again that the human factor is
the weakest link in computer security. But enough with the off-topic
emails.
R. E. Paret
References:
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