possible virus?

eakers

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,169
2
0
i just got this icq from a friend of mine:
THIS IS FOR REAL IT WAS IN MY COMPUTER TOO
FNBK Virus - URGENT read! > > > > It is highly possible that, in the past months, I have unknowingly >infected > > you with the "FNBK" virus which automatically latches on to emails, and > > bides its time on hard drives before becoming active. However, when it > > activates, it entirely wipes out your hard drive. As it is dormant, it >is > > not detected by antivirus programs such as McAfee and Norton. > > > > To get rid of it, you must perform the following steps : > > Click on "Start" > > Choose "Find" > > Then go to "Files or folders" > > Make sure you have "Local hard drives" selected to search in > > Where it asks for the file name, type : SULFNBK.EXE > > If the file is found, select it but DO NOT OPEN IT! > > In order to select without opening, go to "Edit" then "Select all" > > (normally there should be just the one file). > > Then press the delete key, and confirm it is going to the Recycling bin. > > Empty your recycling bin. > >
send it to everyone you know.. expecially from ryerson cause it comes back everytime someone that still has it mails you.


so i search for this virus and i have the file but its been in my harddrive since 23/04/99 so im thinking its not a virus but a hysterical message from a friend.... but i dont know for sure....

thanks for your help.

*kat. <-- a little worried but not much.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,547
20,262
146
Link

The following hoax email was first reported in Brazil. The original email is in Portuguese; it is followed by two English English versions and a French version.

CAUTIONS:

This particular email message is a hoax. The file that is mentioned in the hoax, however, Sulfnbk.exe, is a Microsoft Windows utility that is used to restore long file names, and like any .exe file, it can be infected by a virus that targets .exe files.
The virus/worm W32.Magistr.24876@mm can arrive as an attachment named Sulfnbk.exe. The Sulfnbk.exe file used by Windows is located in the C:\Windows\Command folder. If the file is located in any other folder, or arrives as an attachment to a email message, then it is possible that the file is infected. In this case, if a scan with the latest virus definitions and with NAV set to scan all files does not detect the file as being infected, quarantine and submit the file to SARC for analysis by following the instructions in the document How to submit a file to SARC using Scan and Deliver.
If you have deleted the Sulfnbk.exe file from the C:\Windows\Command folder and want to know how to restore the file, see the How to restore the Sulfnbk.exe file section at the end of this document.

Translated English version:

Do you believe that a friend of mine sent me an alert and the procedure that we have to follow for the possible infection of SULFNBK.EXE. And I had checked, just to make sure. An then... the file was there, hidden even of McAfee and Norton, maybe waiting something to start work.
Well, see bellow the procedure that I followed step by step, and I found the file:

1. Start/Find Folders. Type the file name: SULFNBK.EXE
2. If it find, open Windows Explorer, browse into the folder where the file is and delete it. Do not click with left button on the file and do not open it.
3. Just delete it
4. Mine was on Windows/Command
5. The virus from the person who gave the alert was on Windows/Config

Yes, Norton and McAfee do not detect it.
We do not know if it makes some damage on the machine, but I think that anybody will not want to test it to know, will it?
Folks, this is not fun, I deleted it from my computer.
And my definitions are updated.
Do the same, ok?

A new version of this hoax has additional text stating that the virus will activate on June 1st:

It was brought to my attention yesterday that a virus is in circulation via email. I looked for it and to my surprise I found it on mine. ..
Please follow the directions and remove it from yours TODAY!!!!!!!

No Virus software can detect it. It will become active on June 1, 2001.
It might be too late by then. It wipes out all files and folders on
the hard drive. This virus travels thru E-mail and migrates to the
'C:\windows\command' folder.

The bad part is: You need to contact everyone you have sent ANY
E-mail to in the past few months. Many major companies have found this virus on
their computers. Please help your friends !!!!!!!!

DO NOT RELY ON YOUR ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE. McAFEE and NORTON CANNOT
DETECT IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT BECOME A VIRUS UNTIL JUNE 1ST.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT OPEN THE FILE!!!

 

eakers

Lifer
Aug 14, 2000
12,169
2
0
i suspected as much.

thanks guys!

*kat. <-- should really be doing her homework....
 

yakko

Lifer
Apr 18, 2000
25,455
2
0
It may be a hoax but I had a customer call that followed through with it then called for advice.:)
 

jjones

Lifer
Oct 9, 2001
15,424
2
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these hoaxes make me laff, don't they ever get tired of doing this. oh well, i guess they follow PT Barnum's axiom.

there' too many suckers in the world to resist some fun.