Viruses Uses Michael Jackson’s Name to Gain Access to Your Computer-Truth!
Summary of eRumor:
The eRumor says there is a virus on the Internet that claims Michael Jackson attempted suicide.
The email, which circulated during the close of Michael Jackson’s trial on molestation and other charges, contains a “Trojan horse” type virus that will go on to find and detect other computers.
Another email claims to have pictures of Michael Jackson that could put him behind bars for a long time.
The Truth:
Both of these viruses are true, but the information about Michael Jackson is not.
They use the interest in Michael Jackson and his trial in California to try to lure you to click the attachment to the email and infect you with what is called a “Trojan horse” virus.
It’s one of the tactics virus writers are using to entice you to open an infected attachment…using the names of celebrities.
The Michael Jackson viruses have a couple of themes.
One of them, which circulated while the jury was deliberating in Michael Jackson’s 2005 molestation trial, says that he attempted suicide at his Neverland Ranch and left a suicide note admitting his crimes.
There is a “read more” link and if you click it, you are taken to a website that delivers the Barobt-Gen Trojan horse which allows other computers to have unauthorized access to your computer, usually for the purpose of using your computer as part of a network of computers to, for example, assault a selected website with so many computers trying to access it that it overwhelms it.
Another claims to have incriminating pictures of him that will send him to jail.
The email subject is “Michael Jackson Home Movie Horror.”
The message body says “Posted here are the pictures that are going to put Michael Jackson behind bars for a very long time. Disturbing stills taken from the home movies shot by Mr. Jackson are now circulating the Net. In these pictures here, it can be clearly seen that Mr. Jackson is performing un-natural acts with the boy in question.”
Other viruses have come with promises to show nude pictures of Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kournikova, and Pamela Anderson, or have announced that Osama Bin Laden has been captured.