Security news24 January 2003
JDBGMGR - Virus hoax shows no sign of fading
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.
