posted on December 23, 2001 08:04:39 PM
A friend called me today and said that she may have sent me an email virus. She said it's called sputnick or something like that and that it sends itself to everyone in your address book and infects everyones computer. She said that it lays dormant for 14 days and then it wipes out your hard drive. She told me that she would send me a fix for the virus, which I have attached at the end of this message. The file name for the supposed virus is sulfnbk.exe and I did a search and found this file on my computer. The fix is to delete this file but I am guessing that it isn't really a virus but in fact just a huge parctical joke. It's important to note that she was convinced that this is true and she deleted the file from her computer. I am guessing that sulfnbk stands for system utility long file name backup and deleting it causes you to not be able to backup files with long file names. What do you all think, has anyone heard of this going around, am I right that it's just a practical joke?
And now the supposed fix;
This is no joke. I had it! Fortunately, I read
> the instructions and
> killed
> > the damn thing.
> >
> > I am always very careful to make sure I do not
> have any viruses in my
> > system. I use a McAfee Anti-virus, but one got
> through undetected.
> >
> > I have a big address book, some of you are in it,
> so I hope I haven't
> passed
> > this on to any of you.
> >
> > I've found this virus, and some of you may have it
> too, since it spreads
> via
> > the address book. It lies dormant for 14 days,
> then it kills your hard
> > drive.
> >
> > If you've got it, send this to everyone that's
> listed in your address
> book.
> > Here's how to find it remove it.
> >
> > 1. Go to 'start' - then to 'find or search'
> (depending on your computer)
> > 2. In the 'search for files or folders' type in
> the virus name - "
> > sulfnbk.exe"
> > 3. In the 'look in' make sure you're searching
> Drive C.
> > 4. Hit 'search' button (or find)
> > 5. If this file shows up (it's an ugly blackish
> icon that will have the
> name
> > 'sulfnbk.exe' - DO NOT OPEN IT
> > 6. Right click on the file (ONLY CLICK ONCE!)- go
> down to delete and left
> > click.
> > 7. It will ask you if you want to send it to the
> recycle bin, say yes.
> > 8. Go to your desktop (where all your icons
> are)and double click on the
> > recycle bin.
> > 9. Right click on "sulfnbk.exe" and delete again -
> or empty the bin.
> >
> > If you find it, send this email to everyone in
> your address book, because
> > that's how it's transferred.
> >
> > Jim
posted on December 23, 2001 08:51:40 PM
Wow thanks Stockticker, I looked at the link that you provided and at the link to mcafee.com
So I guessed it right that it was a hoax.
I just called my friend and we had a good laugh together, but I feel sorry for her that she fell for it. Fortunatly Mcafee.com had a way to restore the deleted file.
posted on December 23, 2001 08:58:27 PM
Merry Christmas to you, Yellowstone. In the past, a site search here at AW has always provided useful information about every single major virus that has ever surfaced. Now of course, with fewer posters, it may be a different story.
In the past, a site search here at AW has always provided useful information about every single major virus that has ever surfaced. Now of course, with fewer posters, it may be a different story.