'A Virtual Card for You' Virus Hoax
Subject: Virus Warning
CNN announced. PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST !!
A new virus has just been discovered that has been classified by Microsoft as the most destructive ever! This virus was discovered yesterday afternoon by McAfee and no vaccine has yet been developed. This virus simply destroys Sector Zero from the hard disk, where vital information for its functioning are stored.
This virus acts in the following manner: It sends itself automatically to all contacts on your list with the title "A Card for You." As soon as the supposed virtual card is opened, the computer freezes so that the user has to reboot. When the keys or the reset button are pressed, the virus destroys Sector Zero, thus permanently destroying the hard disk.
Yesterday in just a few hours this virus caused panic in New York, according to news broadcast by CNN. This alert was received by an employee of Microsoft itself. So don't open any mails with subject: " A Virtual Card for You. " As soon as you get the mail, delete it. Even if you know the sender.
Please pass this mail to all of your friends. Forward this to everyone in your address book. I'm sure most people, like myself, would rather receive this 25 times than not at all.
Also: Intel announced that a new and very destructive virus was discovered recently. If you receive an email called "An Internet Flower For You", do not open it. Delete it right away! This virus removes all dynamic link libraries (.DLL files) from your computer. Your computer will not be able to boot up!!
This is posted as a warning. Lets hope that none of us gets touched by any of this.
Important 2007 Update: While the 2000-vintage email warnings discussed below about a supposed "Virtual Card for You" virus were confimred hoaxes, a fresh crop of bogus e-greeting card announcements began appearing in 2007 which contain links that actually do expose users to Trojan horses and other dangerous malware.
Read more...
Comments: With so many real viruses wreaking havoc on computers and networks worldwide, it's a shame we have to cope with false warnings like the above. There is no such threat as the "Sector Zero" or "A Card for You" (aka "A Virtual Card for You") virus. If you receive a copy of this alert, just delete it.
As a general rule, acting on forwarded email warnings is the worst way to try to protect yourself from viruses - and not just because the majority of emailed virus warnings are hoaxes. In a sense, all such warnings - even the accurate ones - are misleading, because they leave the false impression that as long as you're on the alert for file attachments with specific names, you will be safe. The reality is that you put yourself at risk by downloading any executable file by any name - and some viruses are even designed to rename themselves or email copies of themselves under randomly varying names.
Much, much, much more important than heeding emailed virus warnings are the simple preventative measures of:
- Always being very careful what you download
- Scanning your hard drive regularly with up-to-date antivirus software.
Lets start with our favorite, rubber. A small jar/icing spatula seems to work best, the handle is fairly rigid and the blade is a firm rubber. You can pick them up at most "Ace Hardware" stores for a buck or less. Easy to make and a product that should allow enough pressure and yet shouldn't scratch. Some have expressed interest in the Rubbermaid brand of spatula. As you can see from the picture above they are a bit fatter than the NORPRO brand. I compare using the Rubbermaid Spatula for cleaning sensors to using a pair of needle nose pliers to remove a splinter. Remember, you are working down in a small hole and need to see what your doing. The rubber is very simple to cut. I like using a tool I bought from Sears. The "Handi-Cut" gives you quite a bit of leverage and cuts a nice straight line. I have found that a straight edge razor being used like a guillotine works well. I don't recommend a pair of regular scissors, as they tend not to cut a straight line when going through rubber. The photos to the left show the simple 3 steps to cutting your own SensorWand™. Square the tip off, cut the desired width, then put a chisel point on the tip. 
First, I must re-emphasize the need to do this on a clean surface, the cleaner your work surface the better your results can be anticipated. For illustration purposes only, I'm demonstrating the steps to wrap your own wand with a piece of yellow paper instead of the Pec*Pad™ you should be using. 
We have found that a great subject to shoot for the test, is your monitor. Seeing that you already have to use a computer to view your test, there is no need to go elsewhere to make the test. You already have a willing and qualified subject right in front of you, why not use it. Prepare your monitor for shooting the test: 
