Top 8 Computer Virus Hoaxes

Internet Security Pranks Declared Hoaxes by Anti-Virus Software Companies

Computer viruses come part and parcel with being on the internet. Unfortunately so do computer virus hoaxes. Typically, uninformed internet users receive a suspicious email or virus alert and pass along the information to other uninformed users without checking the validity of the virus. In essence the hoax itself becomes the virus due to the way it is spread. Below are 8 of the most commonly found computer virus hoaxes on the internet. Some of them are still floating through cyberspace scaring innocent victims into believing their computer crashed because they caught a virus.

1. Reeirti Virus - This is one of the most current virus hoaxes spreading through the web. It began being circulated amongst Serbian speaking users in February 2008 and may have begun to branch out into other languages. Supposedly this is a virus internet users get when they open an email from reeirti@hotmail will cause your hard drive to be formatted so that you lose all your data. The only risk associated with the reeirti virus is if the email alert comes with an attachment.

2. T-Virus Mobile Phone Hoax - In 2004 a marketing firm began sending text messages to mobile phone numbers saying they were infecting them with the T-Virus. Phone owners were instructed to forward the message to friends in order to win prizes. According to the message the only way to uninfect yourself was to reply to the message. There never was a t-virus but there was many unknowing sign-ups for mobile games.

3. Bum_tnoo7 Facebook Hacker Alert - This virus hoax started making the rounds in August 2007 when a MySpace user began sending emails and announcements via MySpace and Facebook. The chainletter claims that if you add a friend with bum_tnoo7@hotmail.com you are adding someone who will hack into your email account. To date this warning has been found to be completely bogus and forwarding this letter is a waste of time.