COMPUTER VIRUS MYTHS

McAfee-Question : Is Windows a virus ?

No, Windows is not a virus. Here's what viruses do:

1.They replicate quickly - okay, Windows does that.

2.Viruses use up valuable system resources, slowing down the system
as they do so - okay, Windows does that.

3.Viruses will, from time to time, trash your hard disk -
okay, Windows does that too.

4.Viruses are usually carried, unknown to the user, along with valuable
programs and systems. Sigh... Windows does that, too.

5.Viruses will occasionally make the user suspect their system is too slow
(see 2) and the user will buy new hardware. Yup, that's with Windows, too.

Until now it seems Windows is a virus but there are fundamental differences:Viruses are well supported by their authors, are running on most systems, their program code is fast, compact and efficient and they tend to become more sophisticated as they mature.

So Windows is not a virus.

It's a bug.

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BADTIMES VIRUS WARNING

This just in from www.viruswarnings.gov
NEW VIRUS WARNING

If you receive an e-mail with a subject line of "Badtimes,"
it's already too late... This is the most dangerous E-mail virus yet.

It will completely re-write your hard drive.

Not only that, but it will scramble any disks that are even close to your computer. It also demagnetizes the strips on all your credit cards, reprograms your ATM access code, screws up the tracking on your VCR and uses subspace field harmonics to scratch any CDs you try to play.
It will recalibrate your refrigerator's coolness setting so all your ice cream melts and your milk curdles. It will give your ex-boy/girlfriend your new phone number.
This virus will mix antifreeze into your fish tank. It will drink all your soda and leave dirty socks on the coffee table when you are expecting company. It will hide your car keys when you are late for work and interfere with your car radio so that you hear only static while stuck in traffic.
It will replace your shampoo with Nair and your Nair with Rogaine.
If the "Badtimes" mail message is opened in a Windows 95 environment it will leave the toilet seat up and leave your hairdryer plugged in dangerously close to a full bathtub.
It will not only remove the forbidden tags from your mattresses and pillows, but it will also refill your skim milk with whole milk.
It is insidious and subtle. It is dangerous and terrifying to behold.
These are just a few signs.

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THREAT TO ALL!

I just got word of this new virus, so thought I'd better send it on to you to check out. TELL everybody!!!!!!

CNN REPORTS A NEW VIRUS HAS BEEN RECENTLY DISCOVERED. ONE PERSON CAN PASS IT ON TO MILLIONS AS IT IS VERY CONTAGIOUS.

THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL HAS REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT THE VIRUS SPREADS VERY RAPIDLY FROM ONE PERSON TO THE NEXT. THEY HAVE GIVEN THIS VIRUS AN INTERESTING NAME... THEY'RE CALLING IT................ A BIG SMILE

UH-OHhhhhh OH! TOO LATE!!!!!!!!

I SEE IT ON YOUR FACE ALREADY!

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TO: ALL USERS
SUBJECT: VIRUS ALERT!

There is a very dangerous virus going around and it is propagated through the email system. If you get an email message with the subject: "VIRUS ALERT!" do not open the mail message. If you do, the virus scrambles the second half of every text file on your system.
VERY IMPORTANT:
If you do get this virus, the first thing dlkfjaid dfdjas nairb gfdq40wt yaj asdfsdg dluog av da agj asdfajpg as dflasidffnm asd difvu asdfa vgoiae vdsofj we dasdf 9efm sd dag0 g adf as dg 0vbwe ads gwefawe ads vewerwe dsf!

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