Truth About Computer Security Hysteria

Life is Beautiful virus

This hoax alert warns everyone to look out for emails with an attachment called "Life is Beautiful.PPS". According to the hoax, if you click on the attachment, your computer will be infected with a dangerous computer virus.

Like most virus hoaxes, it claims antivirus firms "are not capable of destroying it" and it urges you to "make a copy of this email to all your friends." The hoax bolsters its claims by insisting the supposed virus writer "aims to destroying domestic PCs and who also fights Microsoft in court! That's why it comes disguised with extension pps. He fights in court for the Windows-XP patent."

Variants of this hoax appear in different languages. Vmyths believes this hoax originated in another language, and we assume well-meaning users translated the hoax alert as a (misguided) public service. (The statement "make a copy of this email to all your friends" almost certainly derived from a poor English translation.)

Last updated: 2002/8/17