warning Email virus alert

mersin10



Joined: 05/11/2008
Posts: 94

Message Posted:
29/07/2009 11:55

back in uk for 6 weeks. just had an Email from freecycle bradford warning of a virus via Email called postcard from hallmark. do not open. it has no cure as yet . see you soon alan.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
29/07/2009 12:13

Thanks Mersin10, will keep an eye open for that

Regards ,Simbas

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
29/07/2009 12:25

Hi,

This method of distributing viruses is not new - in fact the 'Hallmark postcard' dates back a couple of years, see: -

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp

It is good practice NEVER to click on a link in an email, even if it is, or appears to be, from a colleague, friend or family member.

When I was in IT, we spent a disproportionate amount of our time cleaning up people's PCs after they had clicked on 'joke' or other links.

Keith.

Molly


Joined: 30/08/2008
Posts: 299

Message Posted:
29/07/2009 12:52

I have recently attempted to look at the Cyprus Observer's website several times and each time a virus warning comes up. Has anyone else had this?

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
29/07/2009 12:56

postcard from hallmark is a hoax.

Look at google!

petez


Joined: 04/12/2008
Posts: 560

Message Posted:
29/07/2009 14:15

Most viruses are sent to people in emails warning them about email viruses!

petez


Joined: 04/12/2008
Posts: 560

Message Posted:
29/07/2009 14:21

lol @ lulu

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
04/08/2009 15:24

set your virus checker to check all incoming email and then when you do get a bummer you can get rid

AndyP



Joined: 18/04/2008
Posts: 517

Message Posted:
04/08/2009 15:55

The official IT verdict = HOAX



My advice is if you get one of these emails put it in Google and see what the results are. Most are hoax emails.



Go To http://antivirus.about.com/od/emailhoaxes/p/postcard.htm



This is what is says

A hoax. The Postcard from Hallmark virus hoax is a knock-off on the old A Virtual Card for You hoax. The Postcard from Hallmark hoax includes a link to a Snopes article which is worded in such a way that it appears the hoax warning is legitimate. It isn't. While greeting card scams do exist, they don't bear any resemblance to what's outlined in the hoax. Following is one example of the Postcard from Hallmark virus hoax: Go to link above for all the rest.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
04/08/2009 16:48

Happy Birthday for Saturday Lulu.



Please watch out when you receive emails about things like this - at least 50% of the time they are hoaxes and sometimes have been round the world more often than the Royal Navy.



Recently we received one with a warning - all the email addresses (of every one) who had been sent it were shown

After the first couple of hundred we stopped trying to count (it must have been over 2 thousand) this is how spam mails are created.



Moral - if you do want to send a warning please send to people who are on the BCC list only and delete all the others who have already seen it too.