BUDDYLST.ZIP

There are at least two versions of the BUDDYLST.ZIP hoax in circulation:

One is in the form of an email message like:

A computer virus is going around! It is called BUDDYLST.ZIP! Do not download or some jerk from the Internet will get your screen name and password! Please send this to any names you can think of and remember never download BUDDYLST.ZIP

Alternatively you may receive an email similar to:

Yesterday a friend of mine called and told me about something that happened to him. He opened his E-mail and this BUDDYLST.ZIP was there. When he opened it his computer crashed and when he tried to re-boot he had lost everything! It was a Virus that was being passed around...BEWARE!

Many virus hoaxes:

• falsely claim to describe an extremely dangerous virus
• use pseudo-technical language to make impressive-sounding (but impossible) claims
• falsely claim that the report was issued or confirmed by a well-known company
• ask you to forward it to all your friends and colleagues

As usual, you are urged not to pass on warnings of this kind, as the continued re-forwarding of these hoaxes simply wastes time and email bandwidth.

It is possible that you may receive a hoax via email with a file attached. Obviously, such file attachments should be treated with caution as they may be virus infected. Sophos recommends deleting virus hoax emails, whether they contain file attachments or not.

Sophos suggests a policy to help prevent hoaxes from spreading in your company.