T-Virus

In August 2004 the makers of the Resident Evil videogame launched a marketing campaign to promote the latest version of their game. The marketing campaign included a website through which text messages could be sent to mobile phone users, telling them that they were infected by a virus.

Some mobile phone users may be concerned by the unsolicited text messages and believe that their phone is genuinely infected by a mobile phone virus.

Here are examples of some of the different SMS text messages that can be received:

Outbreak: I'm infecting you with t-virus, my code is <6 letter alphanumeric code>. Forward this to 60022 to get your own code and chance to win prizes. More at t-virus.co.uk

Another version reads:

Outbreak: By signing up at t-virus.co.uk you are infected! Reply VIRUS STOP to disinfect yourself (and not win great prizes)

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.