Saturday, November 26, 2005

Federal Bureau of Infection?

There's yet another internet virus making the rounds these days, one that seems to prey on guilty consciences. The virus that is sent via e mail, alerts the reader that they have visited a number of illegal sites and have been tracked by the FBI, CIA or the German security service BKA.

The e mail then invites the "guilty parties" to answer a short questionnaire regarding their internet usage, once the questionnaire is opened, a malicious virus becomes active and goes to work infecting the recipients computer.

The FBI have been quick to advise that they don't actually conduct their business in such a manner and you have to wonder about the gullibility of those on the net. Normally as any viewer of such shows as Law and Order and such present, the first time you hear from the police is usually when they're knocking down the door and taking your computer. The idea of a survey and a chat seems kind of beyond belief.

The virus first broke out on the 22nd of November and has traveled quickly since then, already qualifying as the biggest of the year so far. According to virus hunters, the e mail solicitation has so far trapped millions of net users (most of whom live in North America) willingly ready to confess their surfing sins and fess up to the Feds.

If this were a confessional, they would be asked to recite web surfing for dummies as penance.

For those that have yet to click on the link but may be tempted to come clean about their surfing there's a simple choice to make, they can call their lawyer or call their computer repair person. Either/or may be the most valuable support person once they hit enter.

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