How to Spot a Virus Hoax

Part 5. Deeyenda

(It's Deeyenda the world as we know it)

The "Deeyenda hoax appeared near the end of 1996. Again, the interlinear commentary (bracketed and in italics) has been added and is not part of the original message.

The hoax message reads:

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION, PLEASE READ!

[This is a slight twist, it doesn't use the word "virus," although the e-mail subject line probably does.]

There is a computer virus that is being sent across the Internet. If
you receive an email message with the subject line "Deeyenda", DO NOT
read the message, DELETE it immediately!

[Several factors are seen here: Virus on the Net. Do not read. Delete immediately. Lots of caps (only one exclamation mark though). By this time, you should already be reasonably sure that this is a hoax.]

Some miscreant is sending email under the title "Deeyenda" nationwide,
if you get anything like this DON'T DOWNLOAD THE FILE! It has a virus
that rewrites your hard drive, obliterates anything on it. Please be
careful and forward this e-mail to anyone you care about.

[There's our miscreant, our warning against download, and our warning of mass destruction.]

Please read the message below.

 -----------

FCC WARNING!!!!! -----DEEYENDA PLAGUES INTERNET

[Red flag. The FCC never issues virus warnings. This is definitely a hoax.]

The Internet community has again been plagued by another 
computer virus.  This message is being spread throughout the 
Internet, including USENET posting, EMAIL, and other Internet 
activities. The reason for all the attention is because of the 
nature of this virus and the potential security risk it makes. 
Instead of a destructive Trojan virus (like most viruses!), 
this virus referred to as Deeyenda Maddick, performs a 
comprehensive search on your computer, looking for valuable 
information, such as email and login passwords, credit cards, 
personal inf., etc.

[This is not only a mythical "Trojan virus," but it also has the powers of a mythical cyber-god. And it is described in a specious manner.]

The Deeyenda virus also has the capability to stay memory resident 
while running a host of applications and operation systems, such as 
Windows 3.11 and Windows 95. What this means to Internet users is 
that when a login and password are send to the server, this virus 
can copy this information and SEND IT OUT TO AN UNKNOWN ADDRESS 
(varies).  The reason for this warning is because the Deeyenda virus 
is virtually  undetectable. Once attacked, your computer will be 
unsecure. Although it can attack any O/S this virus is most likely 
to attack those users viewing Java enhanced Web Pages (Netscape 2.0+ 
and Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0+ which are running under 
Windows 95).

[Virtually undetectable. More superpowers in techno-babble.]

Researchers at Princeton University have found this virus on a number 
of World Wide Web pages and fear its spread.

[Wow. Additional credibility. Princeton's verified it and they're afraid.]

Please pass this on, for we must alert the general public at the 
security risks.

[Here's the replication engine. This one's driven by civic-duty.]

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