SUBJ: CIAC's "History of Virus Hoaxes"
Excerpted from <http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html#history>

Since 1988, computer virus hoaxes have been circulating the
Internet. In October of that year, according to Ferbrache ("A
pathology of Computer Viruses" Springer, London, 1992) one of the
first virus hoaxes was the 2400 baud modem virus:

    SUBJ: Really Nasty Virus
    AREA: GENERAL (1)

    I've just discovered probably the world's worst computer virus
    yet. I had just finished a late night session of BBS'ing and
    file treading when I exited Telix 3 and attempted to run pkxarc
    to unarc the software I had downloaded. Next thing I knew my
    hard disk was seeking all over and it was apparently writing
    random sectors. Thank god for strong coffee and a recent backup.
    Everything was back to normal, so I called the BBS again and
    downloaded a file. When I went to use ddir to list the
    directory, my hard disk was getting trashed again. I tried
    Procomm Plus TD and also PC Talk 3. Same results every time.
    Something was up so I hooked up to my test equipment and
    different modems (I do research and development for a local
    computer telecommunications company and have an in-house lab at
    my disposal). After another hour of corrupted hard drives I
    found what I think is the world's worst computer virus yet. The
    virus distributes itself on the modem sub-carrier present in
    all 2400 baud and up modems. The sub-carrier is used for ROM and
    register debugging purposes only, and otherwise serves no other
    (sp) purpose. The virus sets a bit pattern in one of the
    internal modem registers, but it seemed to screw up the other
    registers on my USR. A modem that has been "infected" with this
    virus will then transmit the virus to other modems that use a
    subcarrier (I suppose those who use 300 and 1200 baud modems
    should be immune). The virus then attaches itself to all binary
    incoming data and infects the host computer's hard disk. The
    only way to get rid of this virus is to completely reset all the
    modem registers by hand, but I haven't found a way to vaccinate
    a modem against the virus, but there is the possibility of
    building a subcarrier filter. I am calling on a 1200 baud modem
    to enter this message, and have advised the sysops of the two
    other boards (names withheld). I don't know how this virus
    originated, but I'm sure it is the work of someone in the
    computer telecommunications field such as myself. Probably the
    best thing to do now is to stick to 1200 baud until we figure
    this thing out.

    Mike RoChenle

This bogus virus description spawned a humorous alert by Robert
Morris III :

    Date: 11-31-88 (24:60)     Number: 32769
    To: ALL                    Refer#: NONE
    From: ROBERT MORRIS III    Read: (N/A)
    Subj: VIRUS ALERT          Status: PUBLIC MESSAGE

    Warning: There's a new virus on the loose that's worse than
    anything I've seen before! It gets in through the power line,
    riding on the powerline 60 Hz subcarrier. It works by changing
    the serial port pinouts, and by reversing the direction one's
    disks spin. Over 300,000 systems have been hit by it here in
    Murphy, West Dakota, alone! And that's just in the last 12
    minutes.

    It attacks DOS, Unix, TOPS-20, Apple-II, VMS, MVS, Multics, Mac,
    RSX-11, ITS, TRS-80, and VHS systems.

    To prevent the spread of the worm:

    1) Don't use the powerline. 2) Don't use batteries either, since
    there are rumors that this virus has invaded most major battery
    plants and is infecting the positive poles of the batteries.
    (You might try hooking up just the negative pole.) 3) Don't
    upload or download files. 4) Don't store files on floppy disks
    or hard disks. 5) Don't read messages. Not even this one! 6)
    Don't use serial ports, modems, or phone lines. 7) Don't use
    keyboards, screens, or printers. 8) Don't use switches, CPUs,
    memories, microprocessors, or mainframes. 9) Don't use electric
    lights, electric or gas heat or airconditioning, running water,
    writing, fire, clothing or the wheel.

    I'm sure if we are all careful to follow these 9 easy steps,
    this virus can be eradicated, and the precious electronic fluids
    of our computers can be kept pure.