What is a Virus Hoax? How to Spot, Avoid, and Respond to Fake Alerts?

It was a regular workday. IT worker Divya was halfway through her coffee when a colleague sent her an important email. The subject line read, WARNING: Critical Virus Detected! According to the email, if she didn’t remove a particular file right away, a new virus would cause her operating system to fail.

Divya got scared and immediately tried to safeguard her system. However, something didn’t feel right. The email contained spelling mistakes, dramatic statements, and untrustworthy media references. After hesitating, she decided to look into it more and found that the warning was a hoax, a clever social engineering tactic designed to waste time and create unnecessary fear.

It may surprise you to learn how common stories like Divya’s are. Virus hoaxes make use of people’s emotions of urgency and anxiety to trick them into spreading false alarms or potentially damaging their systems. In this blog, we’ll explore what virus hoaxes are, how to identify them, and what to do if you encounter one.

What is a Virus Hoax?

A virus hoax is a fake alert indicating a computer virus. The warning is usually sent by email or spread via a notice on a company’s internal network.

These notes are usually conveyed using distribution lists, and the recipient is generally advised to forward the note to additional distribution lists.

Anyone who receives a notification about a new virus can visit one of the top websites that monitors viruses and computer virus scams to see what’s going on. If they receive a note about a virus that they later discover to be a virus hoax, they should inform the sender that the warning is a hoax.

How to identify a Virus Hoax?

When receiving a virus alert, recipients can typically tell a hoax email by its sensational claims. For example, the malicious software would cause their hard drive to implode or the operating system to crash.

Usually, they also use urgent, emotive language to terrify the reader into doing something, along with fake declarations from trustworthy media outlets like CNN and cybersecurity or antivirus software companies like Symantec.

Even though they merely think they are providing crucial information, they help the sender’s attempts at social engineering in the process.

Some virus hoaxes, such as SULFNBK.exe and jdbgmgr.exe, encourage the reader to download important system files that could seriously damage the computer, while most are either chain letters or practical jokes.

Examples of notable Virus Hoaxes

A few examples of notable virus hoaxes are the following:

1. Antichrist

This hoax message claimed that McAfee and Microsoft had discovered the virus. It was sent via email with the subject line “SURPRISE?!!!!!!!!!” The reader’s hard drive became unusable as a result.

2. Irina

The publisher used this warning about a fake virus to advertise an e-book of the same name.

3. Black in the White House

The chain message in this malware hoax alerted users that if they opened the file, an Olympic torch would be released, destroying their C drive.

4. Goodtimes

This alert warned users to remove any emails with the term “Good Time” in the subject line because a computer virus was spreading.

5. Budweiser Frogs, aka BUDSAVER.EXE

Based on the well-known Budweiser ads, this alleged virus was believed to cause damage to a user’s hard drive and steal their login credentials.

What do you do if you receive a Virus Hoax message?

The question of what to do in the event of a virus warning still exists. Would you pass on the message just in case, or should you believe it’s a fake and delete it?

Antivirus software vendors advise users to remove email messages that contain viruses and refrain from sharing them with others.

On a professional level, companies should have a no-sharing policy for any virus-related emails they receive.

It’s also important to remember that virus hoaxes aren’t restricted to email anymore. They are also visible on communication apps and social media. Users should generally avoid opening or forwarding suspicious-looking messages or URL links.

The sender could’ve fallen for a scam, or the message may be from someone they know, but it could also be a fake account designed to look like that person. It’s important to prevent it before it spreads to other people.

Conclusion

Virus hoaxes are more than harmless jokes—they waste resources, cause unnecessary panic, and may even lead to harmful actions, like deleting critical system files. To avoid falling victim to these scams, always scrutinize the claims for signs of exaggeration or fake endorsements. Rely on credible sources to verify any virus alerts before sharing them, and encourage others to do the same.

If you want to enhance your cybersecurity skills and learn how to identify and handle such threats effectively, check out Edureka’s Cybersecurity Certification Training. This course provides practical knowledge to safeguard yourself and your organization against evolving cyber threats.