There is yet another new computer virus known as "Pretty Garden" that will supposedly erase your C:drive completely if opened, it will come from someone you know if they open it and you are on their address list. I also received an alert about "an internet flower" e-mail virus but do not know its M.O. Please delete these e-mails immediately.

Thanks for the warning, Leisuremiles.

Most warnings are hoaxes, for the latest scoop to determine if it is a hoax or the real thing, go to: http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html

Viruses (or is it virusi... ) can be devestating and the best protection is a good anti-virus software and you update at least weekly).

I searched the Symantec site (Norton Anti-Virus), which is pretty current for virus definitions. You can do a 'search' for viruses AND virus hoaxes. It appears that the 'internet flower' virus is a hoax.

QUOTE: This information is a hoax and should be ignored.Sample of hoax message:

Just received the attached from one of our clients. BEWARE! Subject: New Virus found!!Intel announced that a new and very destructive virus was discovered recently. If you receive an email called "An Internet Flower For You", do not open it. Delete it right away! This virus removes all dynamic link libraries from your computer. Your computer will not be able to boot up.SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST!!


Category: Hoax

Please ignore any messages regarding this hoax and do not pass on messages. Passing on messages about the hoax only serves to further propagate it. UNQUOTE. http://service1.symantec.com/sarc/sa...r.for.You.html

However the (ANNAKOURNIKOVA.JPG.VBS)virus is very real. I received it from 3 different sources. The fix is on the site.

The Hoax page (http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html) makes for interesting reading. If you are so inclined, read the Bad Times Hoax on this page. It's a hoot!

Seriously, viruses should not be taken lightly and it was good of you to post the warning. Thankfully, it can do no harm.

Virus Myths
I found this sight a few years ago, before all of the AV vendors started having hoax pages on their sites. I have trained my friends at work to check the web site, or check with me before they forward any Virus Alert, or chain letter as they are usually hoaxes. They have become well trained.

For the chain letter hoaxes & such I send them to Urban Lengends A great Site if you enjoy Urban Legends.

My 11 year old has started using email She has been on restriction from it. She received about 120 emails from her friends of which over half were Virus Hoaxes and Urban Legends. I have taught her well also, she sent out an email to her "list" stating that everything they were sending is pretty much bunk & not to forward anything to her like that.

PerrySSoCal

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joyfully subversive

The best protection is to simply never execute programs, including VB scripts and Word documents - anything that can execute arbitrary code on your machine, from sources which you can't be sure of, including all email.

You'd have to be stupid enough to have run it in order to need to fix it.