Industry cried 'wolf' when it should have been crying 'Magistr'

NEWS Having caused havoc last week, the virus hoax SULFNBK has returned in a different form to pile more misery on virus-fearing computer users. Last week a hoax email told users to delete a Windows file, SULFNBK.exe, claiming it would spark a virus that would wipe their hard drive on 1 June - although the file was really a genuine Windows application. Now, just a week later, users have contacted silicon.com having received malicious emails with SULFNBK.exe attached. Eric Chien, chief researcher at anti-virus firm Symantec, said: "The original hoax message is still a hoax. The problem actually comes from the Magistr virus." According to Chien, the destructive Magistr file can damage a computer hard drive and BIOS, infect Windows files and propagate itself via an unsuspecting user's email address book. In some cases the SULFNBK.exe file is one of those files attached. Chien said: "Its just a coincidence that the virus attaches the SULFNBK.exe when it propagates itself." He added that users should replace the SULFNBK.exe file if they deleted it last time round and delete any other email they receive that has SULFNBK.exe attached. For related news see:
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