Truth About Computer Security Hysteria

Learn about computer virus myths, hoaxes, urban legends, hysteria, and the implications if you believe in them. This site is NOT sponsored by computer security companies.

Hoaxes, myths, urban legends Hoax virus alerts Publicity stunt virus alerts Corporate shenanigans gone awry... Myths & urban legends Joke virus alerts (not considered hoaxes) Misconceptions about genuine threats Overblown computer security threats It exists, but it won't destroy the Internet as predicted... Media flops, media fiascoes A few gullible reporters talk to a few pseudo-experts, and suddenly... Poor advice from NON-experts They're not computer security experts, but they feel like one when they forward a chain letter... Alternate names for hoax/overblown virus alerts... Po-TAY-toe, po-TAH-toe... Genuine horror stories because someone believed a virus myth NON-virus hoaxes/legends

Latest columns SANS director confirms the CIA confirmed ... absolutely nothing Want to know how urban legends get started? Allan Paller of the SANS Institute has "confirmed" that (1) an unnamed city once suffered a blackout and (2) some people tried to profiteer from it. And he absolutely knows this for a fact because (3) the CIA told him absolutely nothing. This whopper is truly ironic — because just last October, Paller told everyone to stop telling whoppers... It's obvious when you compare the two (part 4) Do you honestly think the members of some daring "USAF cyberspace mission" will gather together every anniversary for 65 years to toast their feat with gleaming silver goblets? Why did AV firms miss Vista release deadline? Years ago at a global conference, Symantec gave a hoity-toity speech on all of the new types of malware they feared would debut with Redmond's new operating system. After all these years, why couldn't Symantec (and other major firms) release a Vista upgrade in tandem with Vista's delayed debut? This day in hysteria... 2004: Iraqi cyber-insurgents demand release of Sasser & Agobot worm authors ''or else!'' Iraq's deadly shockwave riders issued a communiqué. It carried an ultimatum — they'd digitally repeat the WWII bombing of Berlin if Germany didn't release the Sasser & Agobot worm authors from prison...