I really like you

The "I really like you" virus hoax was first seen in August 2004.

Although it is perfectly possible that a virus could, in the future, spread itself with the subject line "I really like you" it is not advisable to forward warnings like this around the internet as it wastes bandwidth and raises unnecessary panic.

The hoax, like many other hoaxes, claims that no anti-virus product can detect the virus. In this case it claims that the virus is "of the type B-41.a". This appears to be a deliberate attempt to use a scientific-sounding phrase to try and give the warning more credibility. No such virus type exists.

The text of the hoax reads as follows:

A new virus is spreading on internet! The reason why we are writing this to you is because we can not stop it !!!

This virus comes on an email called "I really like you"

But please dont open it !  because as soon as you open the e-mail it destroys the hardware on your Computer!

No antivirus programm will ever detect it, because its a virus of the type B-41.a

WRITE THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT WILL SAVE HIS/HER COMPUTER !!!

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.