Fighting malware and spam

Upgrade Internet/Perrin

This message is not entirely a hoax, but mostly so and contains more errors than truth. Of the files mentioned a couple are more likely than not to contain viruses or worms but the descriptions of the effects are incorrect.
The name of a file is definitely not the best method of judging whether it is likely to be dangerous. It is far better to treat all files as suspicious until proven otherwise.

Hoax text

Subject: Virus with no cure
This virusmessage (from Compaq Computer Corporation)
Virus with no cure.
Please, send this information to every person in your address book.

If you receive an e-mail that reads "Upgrade Internet" do not open it,
as it contains an executable file named "perrin.exe" it will erase all
the data in your hard drive and it will stay in your memory.

Every time that you upload any data, that data will be automatically
erased and you will not be able to use your computer again.

This information was published yesterday in the CNN web site.
This is a very dangerous virus.

To this date. There is no known anti virus program for this particular
virus please, forward this information to your friends, so that they
will be on the alert, also check the list below, sent by IBM with the
names of some e-mails that, if received. SHOULD NOT BE OPENED and must
be deleted immediately. Because they contain attached viruses.

This way your computer will be safe.
The Titles are:
1) buddylst.exe
2) calcul8r.exe
3) deathpr.exe
4) einstein.exe
5) happ.exe
6) girls.exe
7) happy99.exe
8) japanese.exe
9) keypress.exe
10) kitty.exe
11) monday.exe
12) teletubb.exe
13) The Phantom Menace
14) prettypark.exe
15) UP-GRADE INTERNET
16) perrin.exe
17) I love You
18) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
i9) CELCOM Screen Saver or CELSAVER.EX
20) Win a Holiday (e-mail)
21) JOIN THE CREW 0 PENPALS
Subject: Virus
	

VB reminds users: if you receive a virus warning message, do not forward the message to all your friends/colleagues, as it may suggest in the text. If you have verified that the message is a hoax, simply delete it. If you are unsure, forward the message to your IT administrator. Failing that, forward it to hoax@virusbtn.com. It is possible that you may receive a hoax email with a file attachment. Since it is possible that these attachments could be infected VB advises such files to be be treated with the same caution as any other unexpected message attachment and urges users not to open them.

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