Hoax warnings are typically scare tactics started by malicious people who are trying to create a panic in the internet community.
If you are still not sure if a virus warning is a hoax, please forward the email to IT-Help@indstate.edu, but please do not forward the email to anyone
else. If this virus is found to be legitimate, OIT will notify the ISU Community via Global Email.


Characteristics of Virus Hoax email
The characteristic elements of a hoax can contain some of the following language:
The hoax contains language to "forward," "pass on" or "share" the message. Whenever you see such language in an email, there is a strong possibility it's a hoax (or scam).
The hoax usually mentions a well respected company (Microsoft, IBM, AOL, so on...) in order to gain some credibility but there is no way to verify this statement.
The hoax suggests you avoid email with a particular title and suggests you do not open it.


OIT recommends the user first check the web sites listed below to see if the hoax can be identified:
http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html or http://www.datafellows.com/virus-info/hoax

OIT also recommends that email attachments from unknown sources should never be opened (in the case of a document attachment) or run (in the case of an executable program attachment) even when there is no known virus "going around."

Useful ISU Virus Hoax Alerts from the Past:
These types of hoaxes frequently return regardless of age.

Jdbgmgr.exe file Hoax (also known as the Teddy Bear Hoax)

May 16, 2002:   This is a hoax that, like the SULFNBK.EXE Warning hoax, tries to persuade you to delete a legitimate Windows file from your computer. The file that the hoax refers to, Jdbgmgr.exe, is a Java Debugger Manager. It is a Microsoft file that is installed when you install Windows.... [full article]
Updated by: Andrea at 12:12 pm

SULFNBK.EXE file Hoax

January 14, 2002: (originally posted May 31, 2001)  Warning: The following message has been sent out by email. It is a hoax. Please DO NOT follow the instructions below. The file in question, SULFNBK.EXE, is a legitimate application and does not need to be remove.... [full article]
Updated by: Andrea at 12:30 pm

• Current Fraudulent E-mails, Scams and Hoaxes found at OIT's main Virus Page
• Older Fraudulent E-mails and Hoaxes Alerts
• What is a Virus Hoax and How can I tell if an email is a virus hoax
• What is Phishing? (from MillerSmiles.co.uk)
• Anti-Phishing Working Group A Web site focused on eliminating the fraud and identity theft that result from phishing, pharming and email spoofing of all types
• MillerSmiles.co.uk, An anti-phishing site which maintains a massive archive of phishing and identity theft email scams.
• Symantec's Search and Expanded Threats Page searchable database of virus threats as well as hoaxes.