The Internet Flower For You "Virus" Email Warning Is A Hoax

Last significant update: 24 February 2001

This information can be freely reproduced in any medium, as long as the information is unmodified.

Thanks to Linda Maton for first bringing this to our attention on 11 August, 2000.

Yet another of the typical scare-tactic hoax: lots of scare, no verifiable facts, and no solid dates:

Subject: new virus found!!!!!!!!!!!
   BEWARE!
  Subject: New Virus found!!

Interesting. Someone along the line has decided to ad a few extra exclamation points, "for emphasis." Probably someone who was hoodwinked by the hoax.

Intel announced 

Intel isn't in the business of announcing viruses.

that a new and very destructive virus was discovered recently.

No they haven't. See below. Notice the use of an indefinite date. The object is to make the hoax seem new, no matter when you first see it. If it said "Was discovered in January 1998", it wouldn't have the scare factor.

If you receive an email called "An Internet Flower For You", 

Alright, lets do a seach for "internet flower" on Intel's web site.

Hey! No hits!! I wonder why. [If you find a hit, let me know -- that would probably indicate that they put up a debunk themselves, but no such document is available at the time of this writing.]

 do not open it.  Delete it right away! 

I support not opening unsolicited email attachments, but that's general advice. No need for things about specific Subject: lines. Of course, this is a hoax, so we shouldn't be looking for good advice.

This virus removes all dynamic link libraries from your computer. Your 
computer will not be able to boot up.

Moot point, since no such malware exists. It's just a boring hoax -- one whose text is very unimaginative. In fact, it's almost identical to several older ones.

  SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST!!

Please do not forward this -- or any other hoax -- to all your friends.

Instead, you should reply to the sender -- and as far back up the email chain as you have energy -- informing the originators that this is a hoax. For this particular hoax, I suggest that you provide a pointer to this URL (http://www.umich.edu/~virus-busters/hoaxes/flower.html)
For virus or hoax info, please see our main page (http://www.umich.edu/~virus-busters/) or go to another reputable site, like The Urban Legends Reference Pages (leaving our site).

   -BPB

visits to this page since 24 February 2001 20:55 EST