buy a clue, snopes abuse

Arrrgh, got this on a business networking email list today:

<begin quote>

(Mindy, please pass this along to the BRN group. Thanks!)

Importance: High

The verification link from snopes.com is included. This is a BAD one.


Here is a link to the snopes page:

<http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp>
http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp

(ihttp://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp

i HAV


PLEASE

SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST!!

A new virus has just been discovered that has been classified by Microsoft
as the most destructive ever. This virus was discovered yesterday afternoon
by McAfee . This virus simply destroys Sector Zero from the hard disk, where
vital information for its functioning are stored.
This virus acts in the following manner:
It sends itself automatically to all contacts on your list with the title:
"You've received a Post Card from a Family member".

As soon as the supposed virtual card is opened the computer freezes so
that the user has to reboot. When the ctrl+alt+ del keys or the reset button
are pressed, the virus destroys Sector Zero, thus permanently destroying the
hard disk. Yesterday in just a few hours this virus caused panic in New York
, according to news broadcast by CNN.

This alert was received by an employee of Microsoft itself.
So don't open any mails with subject: "A Post Card from .." As soon as you
get the mail, delete it !! Even if

you know the sender !!!

>end quote>

My response was way too nice on-list.

1) Snopes link says that the post card subject line is really a link to a trojan .

2) Snopes link says do NOT confuse this one with the HOAX virtual card message about sector 0.

3) I've been getting these postcard messages for over a month now, so it's not breaking urgent news

4) 'This alert was received by an employee of Microsoft itself.' == this type of statement screams irrelvant bs trying to make stupid people think it's important I'm a HOAX.

ughhhhhh