‘Virus warning’ email hoax hits Phuket

PHUKET: An email circulating round the island, warning computer users of a new virus that is scheduled to activate itself tomorrow (June 1), is a hoax, say experts. The message begins, “Urgent. A virus could be in your computer files now, dormant but [set to] become active on June 1. Follow [the] directions below to check if you have it and to remove it now.” The email urges recipients to search their hard drives for a file called sulfnbk.exe. This file, the mail claims, is a virus which, once it becomes active, will destroy computer files. In fact, say the experts, Sulfnbk.exe is a perfectly harmless Windows utility which is used to help the computer recognize long file names. According to a spokesperson for the anti-virus software manufacturer Symantec, Sulfnbk.exe is “a useful file that shouldn’t be deleted”. For further information see the CNET news item at https://two.digital.cnet.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eBqw0BJd3p0U0cT10AP.