Warning:Extortion

[mike_baram]

Unfortunately I was so PO'd that I trashed the message, but yesterday I got an e-mail message that supposedly infected my system with a virus, and I could get the anti-virus program by sending the shmuck $24.99 to a bank in the Ukraine.
First, a virus can't be spread via e-mail unless it's in an attachment.
Second, if any of you get such a message, it's extortion, and you can contact the FBI or local authorities.
As I said, I dumped the message, but here's the guy's e-mail address (if it's legit).

data@aip.mk.ua

Regards,
Mike

Strange,
Yesterday I recieved a email titled "Viagra" & the only word in the text was Viagra. It also came with a attachment. We know the people who sent us it but I thought that it was strange for them to send somehting like that. Then I couldn't get my MS Explorer to work! So my parents fired up the Anti Virus & we're back to normal. People who spread thats stuff should be locked up.......Or just tell Al that they made fun of Bishop & let him at them!

Keith,

[mike_baram]

...or spread the word that they want to pass gun control legislation, then stand back and watch the fireworks.
But seriously, spreading a virus out of malicousness is one thing. Trying to extort money from gullible people passes in the realm of scumhood.

[leo]

My computer was down darn near all summer because of a virus. Watch out for unwanted messages with attachments.

[VonHelton]

You know Al Lowe? So do I.!!

(And yer right...of course!!)

LOL

[Kirby]

You guys are right. I got this damned Trojan Deep Throat virus and still don't know how. I can't remember opening any attachments. The Norton people tell me it's contained but it's still there. I just don't understand why jerks do this and to people they don't even know.

Kirby

[mike_baram]

Kirby,
Less intelligent buttholes spray paint their signs on public property. It's just another form of "I can get away with it, nyah, nyah, nyah".
Of course, there's the theory that these virus creators are actually employed by McAfee and Symantec. Sort of like the service station owner who spreads nails on the road to improve his tire repair business.
Mike

Most of these viruses are made by students,
during vacation there are double as much viruses appearing.

Greetings,

Adriaan

[Billy_Bishop]

I orginally posted the message below in response to a message Leo posted about a virus hoax he'd been the victim of. But I think, the thoughts it conveys are relevant to this problem as well.

"I hate to tell you this, but if part of the warning contained the line "pass this along to everyone you know...." or something similar, it's most likely a hoax.

Virus hoaxes are more common than the actual virus lately.

Essentially we have two different classes of jerks in the computer world. One is the very talented but brain warped class that creates a virus. That these people put their talent to doing such heinous damage to computers is a real mystery.

Then we have the 2nd class of jerks. The no-talent class. These are the people who think up the virus hoax warnings and start spreading them.

That their parents would let them at the computer un-attended to do such a thing is just irresponsible. These people obviously have the mental capacity of a 2-year old (my apologies to actual 2 year olds through out the world), and shouldn't be allowed access to the computer without adult supervision."

VBR,

Al Lowe

[mike_baram]

I agree with Al. (That in itself should be cause for alarm. Perhaps the millenium doomsayers are right.)
But the point here is not so much a hoax as that some people might actually send this (expletive deleted) the money he's demanding, which moves this into the area of criminality.