> >
> >
> >>> WORST VIRUS EVER --- CNN ANNOUNCED
> >> PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST!!
> >>
> >> A new virus has just been discovered that has been classified by
> >>Microsoft as the most destructive ever. This virus was discovered
> >>yesterday afternoon by McAfee . This virus simply destroys Sector Zero
>
> >>from the hard disk, where vital information for its functioning are
> >>stored.
> >> This virus acts in the following manner:
> >> It sends itself automatically to all contacts on your list with
> >>the
> >>title:
> >> "A Card for You".
> >>
> >> As soon as the supposed virtual card is opened the computer
> >>freezes so
> >> that the user has to reboot. When the ctrl+alt+ del keys or the
> >>reset button are pressed, the virus destroys Sector Zero, thus
> >>permanently destroying the hard disk. Yesterday in just a few hours
> >>this virus caused panic in New York , according to news broadcast by
>CNN.
> >>
> >> This alert was received by an employee of Microsoft itself.
> >> So don't open any mails with subject: "A Virtual Card for You."
> >>As soon as you get the mail, delete it !! Even if you know the sender
>!!!
> >>
> >> Please pass this mail to all of your friends.
> >>
> >> Forward this to everyone in your address book. I'm sure most
> >>people, like myself, would rather receive this notice 25 times than
> >>not at All

From Snopes:


Origins: The
original "Virtual Card for You" hoax (now often circulated simply as a
"A Card for You") has been making the rounds in various languages since
at least 2000, with occasional changes along the way. No such
(incurable) virus existed, was identified by McAfee, was reported on by
CNN, or "caused panic in New York."

However, September 2006 saw the release of W32Heartworm.A, an MSN
Instant Messaging network worm that lures IM users into clicking through
to an infecting web site with a message claiming to offer "a virtual
card for you." The original "Virtual Card for You" e-mail warning
remains a hoax (since the newer W32Heartworm.A version is spread through
Instant Messaging, not via e-mail), but IM users should be aware of it.


From MacAfee:
-- Update Dec 01, 2003 --
The El Financiero Satellite News Service has published the article "A
New Powerful Computer Virus Unleashed", which was based on this hoax
rather than an actual virus.

AVERT HOAX Notice!!

McAfee AVERT Labs would like to inform you of an email HOAX.

This email message is just a HOAX, currently we know of no other message
that the user will receive about the HOAX as the initial email states.
AVERT has not received any report of a user's hard drive being erased
for opening the email.

We are advising users who receive the email to delete it and DO NOT pass
it on as this is how an email HOAX propagates.