BitDefender Antivirus


Step1: Identify support Step2: Issue Step3: Solution and contact

Hoaxes

 

Summary:

Describes the typical hoaxes and how to recognize them.


Detailed description:

Generally, a hoax is a false warning in which the author uses social engineering in order to determine the computer user to perform a certain action. The typical virus hoax claims a new virus has been detected and instructs forwarding the warning to all your friends.

These messages waste people's time, clog up mail servers and consume network bandwidth. The damages incurred are usually caused by the user himself, when the hoax instructions are blindly followed.

A common hoax will include one or more of these features:

  • The message refers to well known entities like organizations, companies, etc. to give credibility to the warning.
  • It urges you to spread the warning to as many users as possible, usually close friends.
  • The message includes an incentive for forwarding it to a minimal number of people.

     

  • The technical details are either inconsistent or incomprehensible.
  • The text includes words in capitals or multiple exclamation marks.
  • The message was forwarded several times and includes multiple > characters in front of each line.

We recommend deleting any hoax without forwarding or replying to it.




Software Applications:
BitDefender Antivirus 2009, BitDefender Client Security, BitDefender GameSafe, BitDefender Internet Security 2009, BitDefender Online Scanner, BitDefender Security for File Servers, BitDefender Security for Mail Servers (Linux), BitDefender Security for Mail Servers (Windows), BitDefender Security for Samba, BitDefender Total Security 2009

Operating systems:
Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, FreeBSD, Mandrake, Red Hat, Slackware, SUSE, Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows 2008, Windows 7, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows VISTA, Windows XP

Solution ID: 213 Created on 02 Jun 2005 08:47
Language: English Modified on 08 Jul 2009 10:58


Useful Links


MyBitDefender Login