Happy New Year

The Happy New Year hoax email virus is very similar to the Good Times hoax.

The text reads as follows:

Warning: On December 31, 1999, you may receive an email called, Happy New Year...do not open it, it contains a deadly virus...it will erase windows from your computer along with many other program files. Pass this on as soon as you can to get the WORD out!!! This is not a hoax....this was reported on CNN on Tuesday the 2nd November 1999!

Many virus hoaxes:

• falsely claim to describe an extremely dangerous virus
• use pseudo-technical language to make impressive-sounding (but impossible) claims
• falsely claim that the report was issued or confirmed by a well-known company
• ask you to forward it to all your friends and colleagues

As usual, you are urged not to pass on warnings of this kind, as the continued re-forwarding of these hoaxes simply wastes time and email bandwidth.

It is possible that you may receive a hoax via email with a file attached. Obviously, such file attachments should be treated with caution as they may be virus infected. Sophos recommends deleting virus hoax emails, whether they contain file attachments or not.

Sophos suggests a policy to help prevent hoaxes from spreading in your company.