Sophos reports that JDBGMGR, the virus hoax that first appeared
in April 2002, is still causing disruption almost a year after it
first appeared.
The virus hoax purports to be a warning message telling readers
to avoid infection by deleting a file called JDBGMGR.EXE from their
hard drives. In fact, this file is a legitimate system file
installed with versions of Internet Explorer. Though deleting this
file should not affect normal computer usage unless you are a Java
developer, the Sophos website search logs show that it is one of
the most searched for phrases on the Sophos website, outranking all
virus searches except for W32/Klez - the number one virus of
2002.
"It's great to see that people are going to reputable anti-virus
sites when they receive suspicious information." said Graham
Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos Anti-Virus "We all
have a part to play in slowing the spread of this hoax down. If you
receive this email, simply delete it."
Virus hoaxes are false reports about non-existent viruses, often
claiming to do impossible things. Unfortunately some recipients
occasionally believe a hoax to be a true virus warning and may take
drastic action (such as shutting down their network).
To keep informed about the most prevalent hoaxes and viruses,
you can add a free Sophos information feed to your own website or
intranet.
Sophos is headquartered in Boston, US and Oxford, UK. More information is available at www.sophos.com.