virus hoax overreaction

[Ken Kinman]

Hey guys,
     It's too hot to fight.  There is a WOBBLER hoax out there.  No big
deal, but if you want to read about it just go to the Sophos Homepage
(www.uk.sophos.com)---the virus information page has section on hoaxes and
scares.
     I'm sure Doug meant well, but perhaps it would be best to only discuss
real virus threats like Melissa on lists such as this.  James appears to be
in a bad mood, and he overreacted in my opinion.  Perhaps we should chalk it
up to the hot weather and the paucity of posts on taxacom during the summer.
     Let's not sweat the small stuff.
                    Sincerely, Ken Kinman

>From: James Bass <JAMESBASS at PRODIGY.NET>
>Reply-To: James Bass <JAMESBASS at PRODIGY.NET>
>To: TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG
>Subject: AM I MISSING SOMETHING? Re: latest virus hoax
>Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 05:10:23 -0400
>
>Doug,
>Just what were you trying to do with this piece of foolishness?
>
>I take virus warnings quit seriously as I have a large number of
>vulnerable files and so I have one of the best 'backweb' based
>virus protections out.  It usually inoculates the system for a virus
>before the rest of us know it's a problem. (And, if no fix is available
>for a while {as with MELISSA}  all kinds of precautions are sent out.)
>Nothing had come for WOBBLER.
>
>So, I quickly went to a really Geek anti-virus site to check their latest
>alerts;  No WOBBLER; No WOBBLER hoax.
>
>I then remembered your IBM reference and I quickly went to their anti-virus
>site (it took about 30-40 seconds as I'm on a slow machine tonight).
>Nothing
>about WOBBLER.  I then quickly checked the  NAI (McAfee) site....again,
>nothing.  What's important about the NAI site is that it lists the latest
>virus
>warnings AND hoaxes.  Nothing...nothing!
>
>As one final check I did a search on the Symantec (Norton) site for
>"WOBBLER" and it produced the following:
>------------------------------
>"WOBBLER Virus Hoax
>VirusName:      WOBBLER Virus Hoax
>Aliases:        none
>Known Variants: Hoax
>Infection Length:       Hoax
>Area of Infection:      Hoax
>Likelihood:     Hoax
>Region Reported:        email
>Keys:   Hoax
>Description:
>This information is a hoax and should be ignored."
>-----------------
>Thus,  Doug, you produced a null set!   ....a non- problem!   ...a waste of
>time.
>
>So, Doug, [1] if your purpose was to play a childish prank on TAXACOM: you
>succeeded!  I for one can't afford to not take virus warnings seriously.
>[Maybe
>the urban legend reference about 'needles in the seats' was your way of
>giving
>us a hint....]
>
>Or, [2] if you were serious why didn't you at least check the IBM site you
>referenced?
>
>To quote the last lines of your message:  "Always check first, before
>passing things
>  on. Lousy smart-ass practical jokers are almost worse than *real*
>viruses."
>
>            Possibly....just, possibly!
>      Jim
>
>----------
>From: Doug Yanega <dyanega at POP.UCR.EDU>
>To: TAXACOM at USOBI.ORG
>Subject: latest virus hoax
>Date: Wednesday, July 07, 1999 12:57 PM
>
>On the theory that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, be
>warned a new "virus" hoax is passing around:
>
> >>Please read carefully:  A new virus:  WOBBLER.
> >>
> >>Just in case you do not know about it yet, please read the information
> >>below.
> >>
> >>It will arrive on e-mail titled "CALIFORNIA".  IBM and AOL have
> >>announced that it is VERY powerful, more so than Melissa, and there is
> >>no remedy.  It will EAT all your information on the hard drive and
>[snip]
>
>This hoax is explained at
>http://www.europe.datafellows.com/v-descs/wobbhoax.
>and probably other sites.
>
>Now none of you kind folks has an excuse to believe it when you get it, or
>pass it on. If you do receive it, pass the above info on to whoever sent
>the hoax to you and encourage them to pass a retraction along. Same goes
>for ALL suspicious-sounding messages, like "Congress wants tax on e-mail",
>"Long distance charges for e-mail", "IBM gives away free computers", "HIV
>needles in theater seats", "Cyanide on ATM envelopes", "E-mail petition for
>XYZ", etc. - never trust ANYTHING that urges you to "pass it on". Always
>check first, before passing things on. Lousy smart-ass practical jokers are
>almost worse than *real* viruses.
>
>Peace,
>
>
>Doug Yanega       Dept. of Entomology           Entomology Research Museum
>Univ. of California - Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521
>phone: (909) 787-4315 (standard disclaimer: opinions are mine, not UCR's)
>                 http://insects.ucr.edu/staff/yanega.html
>   "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
>         is the true method" - Herman Melville,


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