Threat Descriptions

Olympic Torch

Classification

Category :

Hoax

Type :

Hoax

Platform :

W32

Aliases :

Olympic Torch

Summary

"Olympic Torch" is the name of a hoax. It is an Olympics themed warning about a virus that does not exist. This nonexistent virus supposedly "burns" the computer's C: drive.

Removal

The warning is completely false and is nothing more than a hoax.

Forwarding such hoax messages is discouraged. If you receive a version of this hoax, delete the message.

A False Positive is when a file is incorrectly detected as harmful, usually because its code or behavior resembles known harmful programs. A False Positive will usually be fixed in a subsequent database update without any action needed on your part. If you wish, you may also:

  • Check for the latest database updates

    First check if your F-Secure security program is using the latest updates, then try scanning the file again.

  • Submit a sample

    After checking, if you still believe the file is incorrectly detected, you can submit a sample of it for re-analysis.

    Note: If the file was moved to quarantine, you need to collect the file from quarantine before you can submit it.

  • Exclude a file from further scanning

    If you are certain that the file is safe and want to continue using it, you can exclude it from further scanning by the F-Secure security product.

    Note: You need administrative rights to change the settings.

Technical Details

The hoax message contains the following text:

Please read the attached warning issued today . PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS: You should be alert during the next days: Do not open any message with an attached filed called"Invitation" regardless of who sent it.
It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which "burns" the wholehard disc C of your computer.
This virus will bereceived from someone who has your email address in his/her contact list,
that is why you should sendthis email to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times thanto receive the virus and open it. If you receive a mail called "invitation", thoughsent by a friend, do not open it and shut down yourcomputer immediately.
This is the worst virusannounced by CNN, it has been classified by Microsoftas the most destructive virus ever.
This virus wasdiscovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is no repairyet for this kind of virus.
This virus simply destroysthe Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vitalinformation is kept. FORWARD THIS email TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW . . . REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM, YOU WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US.

More information is available from Snopes.com (External Site):

  • https://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/invitation.asp