Reeirti

This virus hoax was reported as spreading between Serbian speaking computer users in 2008. The hoax claims that hard drive data will be lost on computers that receive the email. It is likely that the bogus warning message has also been forwarded in other languages too.

The original Serbian version of the email reads as follows:

Subject: Fw: Upozorenje novi virus - HITNO!

Message body:

Reci svim svojim kontaktima, neka ne otvaraju mail

_ reeirti@ hotmail.com

jer je u pitanju mail koji je virus i koji formatira-izbrise hard disk (kompletan racunar) i ako ga primi samo jedan od tvojih kontakata, automatski ga prenosi na tebe. Posalji kopije ove poruke svim svojim kontaktima, jer je to vrlo vazno.

An English translation of the hoax reads:

Subject: Fw: Warning new virus - URGENT!

Message body:

Tell to all your contacts, not to open mail

_ reeirti@ hotmail.com

Because it is an email with virus that formats-erases hard disk (all data on your computer) and if it is received even from one person from your contacts, it will be transferred to you automatically.

Send copies of this message to all your contacts, because it is very important.

Many virus hoaxes:

• falsely claim to describe an extremely dangerous virus
• use pseudo-technical language to make impressive-sounding (but impossible) claims
• falsely claim that the report was issued or confirmed by a well-known company
• ask you to forward it to all your friends and colleagues

As usual, you are urged not to pass on warnings of this kind, as the continued re-forwarding of these hoaxes simply wastes time and email bandwidth.

It is possible that you may receive a hoax via email with a file attached. Obviously, such file attachments should be treated with caution as they may be virus infected. Sophos recommends deleting virus hoax emails, whether they contain file attachments or not.

Sophos suggests a policy to help prevent hoaxes from spreading in your company.