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Missing the (Power)Point

Date Added: June 6, 2002
Last Updated: June 10, 2002

This virus hoax is a little more creative than the norm, but no more true.

plz send it to all friend.......

This information arrived this morning, from Microsoft and Norton.

Please send it to everybody you know who accesses the Internet. You may receive an apparently harmless email with a PowerPoint presentation called "Life is beautiful.pps" ("lifeisbeautiful.pps").If you receive it DO NOT OPEN THE FILE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, and delete it immediately. If you open this file, a message will appear on your screen saying: "It is too late now, your life is no longer beautiful", subsequently you will LOSE EVERYTHING IN YOUR PC and the person who sent it to you will gain access to your name, email and password.

This is a new virus which started to circulate on Saturday afternoon. WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO STOP THIS VIRUS. UOL has already confirmed its dangerousness, and the antivirus Softs are not capable of destroying it. The virus has been created by a hacker who calls himself "life owner", and who aims to destroying domestic PCs and who also fights Microsoft in court! That's why it comes disguised with extension pps. He fights in court for the Windows-XP patent. MAKE A COPY OF THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS.

First, the official denial from Symantec, makers of Norton Antivirus: "Symantec Security Response encourages you to ignore any messages regarding this hoax. It is harmless and is intended only to cause unwarranted concern."

Now, let's look at the red flags that it's a hoax:

"This information arrived this morning, from Microsoft and Norton."
Arrived where? When was this morning? Microsoft is not in the anti-virus business and does not issue virus alerts. Norton is the brand name of an antivirus program by Symantec Corporation.

"Please send it to everybody you know who accesses the Internet."
No antivirus company distributes information in this fashion.

"You may receive an apparently harmless email with a PowerPoint presentation called 'Life is beautiful.pps.'"
It is possible for a PowerPoint file to be infected with some types of viruses, but this vulnerability is easily patched with updates from Microsoft. Besides, what's keeping someone along the line from changing the file name and sending it to you?

"If you receive it DO NOT OPEN THE FILE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, and delete it immediately."
Real virus warnings tell you about patches and software updates that would provide real protection. They might also include instruction for cleaning the infection and steps to take to report the virus to the authorities. Deleting an infected attachment doesn't protect you from future infections, nor would it remove any existing infections.

"This is a new virus which started to circulate on Saturday afternoon."
When was Saturday? Virtually every virus warning hoax is about a "new" virus, even though some of them have been circulating for years. This lends credence to the following mistaken assertion that the antivirus wouldn't yet be on top of it.

"UOL has already confirmed its dangerousness, and the antivirus Softs are not capable of destroying it."
UOL is a Latin American e-mail provider and, as such, would be just as unlikely an expert source on this as Microsoft. But, if so much is known about this virus, why can't the antivirus programs detect it and protect against it? In reality, most antivirus companies issue updates within hours of a new virus being detected.

The warning concludes with a description of the hacker's motives in this attack, making it seem like you could be an innocent victim in the war between big business and the little hacker - a common theme in e-mail hoaxes.

Relying on anonymously authored and randomly forwarded e-mail warnings to protect you and your PC from virus infection is akin to hanging out in a hospital to protect yourself from the flu. It doesn't provide any safeguards and, in fact, places you at increased risk. There is no substitute for antivirus software. It's inexpensive and readily available (check our links for some of the more popular applications). Install it, keep it updated, and never forward another virus warning. Break this Chain.

References: None

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