NAME.....Budweiser Frogs Screensaver
CODE.....NL6502
ORIGIN...1997
STATUS...False

Budweiser Frogs Screensaver: Version 1

DANGER! VIRUS ALERT!
=====================
THIS IS A NEW TWIST. SOME CREEPOID SCAM-ARTIST IS SENDING OUT A VERY DESIRABLE SCREEN-SAVER {{THE BUD FROGS}}. IF YOU DOWN-LOAD IT, YOU'LL LOSE EVERYTHING!!!! YOUR HARD DRIVE WILL CRASH!!
DON'T DOWNLOAD THIS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!! IT WENT INTO CIRCULATION ON 13/05/97
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS WARNING TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE...
BELOW IS WHAT THE SCREENSAVER PROGGIE WOULD LOOK LIKE!
File: BUDSAVER.EXE (24643 bytes)
DL Time (28800 bps): < 1 minute

Budweiser Frogs Screensaver: Version 2

I have received a warning from a v.reliable source regarding an EVIL new virus.

PLEASE NOTE:
You may receive an Email from an apparently harmless Budweiser screen saver, entitled BUDDYLST.SIP
If you do, DO NOT OPEN IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!
Once opened, you will lose EVERYTHING on your PC. Your hard disk will be completely destroyed and the person who sent you the message will have access to your name and password via the Internet. As far as we know this virus was circulated yesterday morning. It's a brand new virus and extremely dangerous.

Please copy this information and Email it to everyone in your address book. We need to do all we can to block this virus. AOL, Demon and now BT Internet have confirmed how dangerous it is and there is no Anti-Virus program as yet capable of destroying it. Please take all necessary precautions and pass this information on to your friends, acquaintances and work colleagues.

Summary

Long before "WASSUPP" was shouted down phones at every opportunity, Budweiser had a successful marketing campaign with the Budweiser frogs. The unlikely reptile stars were an instant success, and in 1996, a free downloadable screensaver of the "Bud Frogs" from Budweiser proved to be popular. But of course, there is always someone who has to try and spoil it for everyone!

In 1997, with the free download growing ever more popular, some prankster (or a word to that effect!) decided to try and burst Budweiser's bubble with a virus hoax.
The hoax was spread like wild fire via E-Mail, and was a little more harder to spot as a hoax than it's predecessors as it claimed that the virus was contained in the executable file, rather than the actual text of the E-Mail (which cannot be done).

Version 1 is a copy of one of the earliest versions that were being sent out in 1997. The warning is short and very primitive. The amount of exclamation points used to over state a point made it easy pickings for hoax-busters.

Version 2 is a later version and like so many others has an extra twist. Not only will your hard drive be wiped, but also the person who sent you the virus would have access to your name and password via the Internet. Version 2 is a little more complex, and so maybe a little more believable than Version 1.

Of course, needless to say that the both versions shown are copies of the original hoaxes that plagued good peoples inbox's, and so the spelling and grammar has been left untouched.

Final Thoughts

Computer virus hoaxes are a real menace and can achieve as much damage as a real virus. They may not wipe your hard drive, but the physiological effects can be devastating. The fear of a virus causes a loss of confidence and bad publicity, and this vicious circle can hit companies and people hard.

There are loads of anti-virus websites on the Internet that can inform you whether a virus warning is real or just a hoax. These websites advise that the best way to stamp out a virus hoax is to have a better awareness and simply not to forward on the warnings. If only it was that simple!
Please be careful when opening any executable file contained within E-Mail, especially if you don't know the person who sent it.