Stop a Worm/Virus with FAKE email address

[WebSavvy]

Most worms and viruses send themselves out through email by going in through the addresses you have listed in your online address book (or computer HD address book)

The virus/worm goes out to the first name listed (e.g., alphabetical order) if the virus/worm is unable to send to the first email address listed in the address book, it just stops, because it can't go beyond the first email address listed.

Email addresses with numbers come before email addresses beginning with alpha characters. Suggestion: Create a fictitious email address in your address book that begins with a number (e.g. 1@email.com) The virus/worm will attempt to send itself out to this FAKE email address because it's the first one listed in your address book. It won't go anywhere, it will stop, and will not go to the next listed email address in your address book simply because it could not get past the first address listed.

[Daminc]

Hi Deb,

Has that one been tried and tested?

It sounds too simple to be effective :D

[Jimn10]

I agree with Daminc, there is absolutely nothing that would prevent the virus from moving to the next entry just because it could not contact the first entry in the list. In fact it would probably never know or even care if the address was unreachable.

Jim

[Matt B]

Deb, good idea, but I'm not too sure it works.
I think that plan may have been "urban legend virus protection" a couple of years ago.

There are viruses, I think one was the melissa virus, (don't quote me about that) that generate a random order to pull addresses out of Outlook for that very reason.

I was hit with a virus a couple of years ago, and I kept all my usernames and passwords as email addresses.
(not something I would recommend, by the way)
It didn't stop me from getting "wormed" when my first address was 1sexyguy@hotmailemail. :cool:

[scottiecl]

Originally posted by SEO Guy
1sexyguy@hotmailemail. :cool:

[ihelpyou]

Neato smilie Scottie!

It's loaded. :uplaugh:

[Matt B]

Well, it was a good example, at least. :rolleyes:


Somehow, I knew either Scottie or Jill would not let that go.

[Paco]

What cynics!

It takes perhaps 30 seconds to install a fake address, as suggested, and it might do some good;

"perhaps not today, or tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of our lives"

(music swells as Ilsa and Victor walk toward the plane)

Paco

http://www.ElenaRoche.com
Fine Art for Sale and by Commission

[amica_webmaster]

Listen, it's important to point out legitimate concerns. You can call it cynicism, but people have come to these forums to learn. Part of learning is questioning.

Being misinformed about virus protection is risky, sort of like being misinformed about birth control. The techniques suggested may do no harm in themselves, but believing in them leaves the person open to a lot of trouble that could be prevented.

[Chris_D]

Snopes Urban Legends (http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/quickfix.htm )

Sort of works and sort of doesn't - not regarded as an 'industrial strength' antivirus strategy.

Chris_D

[WebSavvy]

Actually, it does work. Our friend Matthew had a worm on his computer, and my brother-in-law builds custom systems. He added a fake email address to Matt's computer until the worm could be found out and removed, and it seems to have worked as no one else in his address book was sent the worm.

It was after we accidentally stumbled onto this idea that I thought to share it with others. Note: this does not protect your computer completely from everything nor does it eliminate the need for virus protection software.

But, if you have a little of everything going, chances are slimmer for nasty things to slip on past.