Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

CIA email via Snopes (I never get the good viruses, no one loves me)

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU
 
uppityperson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-21-05 10:59 PM
Original message
CIA email via Snopes (I never get the good viruses, no one loves me)
I counted at least 7 topics today on this so in case anyone is gullible enough to believe the CIA would email them, here is Snopes take:

Like the earlier Sober.C mass-mailing worm which hit in 2003, this latest version (Sober.X) employs phony warning messages supposedly sent by law enforcement agencies which claim to be tracking illegal Internet activity. In this case, the messages purport to come from a "Steve Allison," an investigator with either the FBI or the CIA, and state that the recipient has visited "more than 30 illegal Websites," presenting him with a "list of questions" he must answer. The whole thing is, of course, a fiction inteded to lure the reader into opening the attached .ZIP file so that the worm can spread to his PC.

Sober.X e-mails are sent out with a variety of subject lines:

* hi, ive a new mail address
* Mail delivery failed
* Paris Hilton & Nicole Richie
* Registration Confirmation
* smtp mail failed
* You visit illegal websites
* Your IP was logged
* Your Password

The FBI has placed an alert about these messages on their web site:
The FBI today warned the public to avoid falling victim to an on-going mass e-mail scheme wherein computer users received unsolicited e-mails purportedly sent by the FBI. These scam e-mails tell the recipients that their Internet use has been monitored by the FBI and that they have accessed illegal web sites. The e-mails then direct recipients to open an attachment and answer questions.

The e-mail appears to be sent from the e-mail addresses of mail@fbi.gov and admin@fbi.gov. There may be other similarly styled addresses. The recipient is enticed to open the zip attachment which contains a w32/sober.jen@mm worm. The attachment does not open and its goal is to utilize the recipient's computer to garner information. Secondly, the virus allows the e-mail to be forwarded to all those listed in the recipient's address book.
Only Microsoft Windows platforms are vulnerable to Sober.X.

Symantec offers removal instructions and updated virus definitions to help combat Sober.X.

http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/soberx.asp
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-21-05 11:02 PM
Response to Original message
1. Somebody posted about that today
And he inquired about what the hell an "illegal website" was.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
niyad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-21-05 11:05 PM
Response to Original message
2. mine came from mail@cia.gov, supposedly--and I reported it as spam.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-21-05 11:05 PM
Response to Original message
3. Here's the thread
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mermaid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Nov-21-05 11:13 PM
Response to Original message
4. I Got Three Of Them Just Today!
Two were the "ive got a new email" subject, and came from what would appear to be legitimate actual people...and one came from fbi.gov

Of course, immediately suspicious, I checked the FBI's page and found the warning, so I knew the whole thing was bogus, and never opened the email.

WHY the fuck are some people such assholes that they want to destroy your computer, when they don't even KNOW you, by sending fucking viruses?

Jesus Christ, I am unemployed, cannot afford to replace my computer, and it is a vital tool for me to continue to look for work...and some motherfucker wants to ruin my computer!! WHY?!?!!?

We oughta take all these motherfucking hackers and hang their asses up by their fucking private parts!!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Sat May 04th 2024, 01:01 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (Through 2005) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC