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Virus Detail

Windows Update Now Hoax

Date Published:
14 May 2003

Last Updated:
14 May 2003

Threat Assessment

Overall Risk:   None
Wild:  None
Destructiveness:  None
Pervasiveness:  None

Characteristics

Type : Hoax

Category : Hoax

Also known as:  

Immediate Protection Info

 
 
 

Description

Computer Associates have received several reports of a virus hoax that masquerades as a Windows Update security warning and are publishing this description to alleviate user's concerns.

This hoax is slightly unusual, as opposed to asking users to forward this e-mail to as many people as possible (as is the standard for most virus hoaxes), this hoax appears to have been spammed. The e-mail attempts to coerce users into visiting a particular URL by first stating that the user has a virus on their computer, and then continues to warn that they will receive the same message repeatedly until they visit the URL.

Note: The URL is not registered to Microsoft, and at the time of posting this description, the site was no longer available.

There is no additional information regarding this hoax at this time.

The text on this page is part of a hoax and is not a legitimate warning or offer. We present it here to help you identify any hoax messages that you receive. Please note that hoaxes often have several variations in circulation, so you may receive a hoax message that is similar, but not identical to the message below.

From: <windowsupdate@windowsupdatenow.com>

Subject: Windows Update Notification

WINDOWS SECURITY WARNING!!

A VIRUS HAS BEEN DETECTED ON YOUR COMPUTER. IN ORDER FOR YOUR COMPUTER NOT
TO CRASH YOU WILL NEED TO GO TO:

HTTP://WWW.WINDOWSUPDATENOW.COM

AND IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY UPDATE YOUR COMPUTERS SECURITY PATCHES.

SIMPLY TYPE IN HTTP://WWW.WINDOWSUPDATENOW.COM INTO YOUR BROWSER.
OTHERWISE
YOU WILL KEEP RECEIVING THIS SECURITY ALERT EMAIL EVERY DAY.

CA Global Security Advisor

Current threat condition: Low
Low
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