Bad Times (computer virus hoax)
Encyclopedia
Bad Times is a computer virus
hoax
sent out by e-mail
. This "virus" does not actually exist, and the "warning" is meant to parody the alarmist message that spread the hoax of the Goodtimes virus
. Like the "Goodtimes" hoax, the message warns of the horrible consequences that the virus can inflict; however, unlike "Goodtimes", where all of the consequences might have sounded plausible to people unfamiliar with computers, many of the claims made for the "Badtimes" virus are utterly implausible, such as that the virus "will drink all your good beer" and "will leave dirty socks on the coffee table when you are expecting company."
It is debatable whether the "Badtimes" message can be classed as a "hoax", since the intent seems to be to make the claims ludicrous enough to not fool anyone. However, Sophos
' page on "Badtimes" classifies it under hoaxes and claims "... some users are still concerned by the message and we recommend you do not forward it to friends and colleagues."
The parody even inspired a musical version, by the group Laika
, where the female lyricist recites the contents of one of the versions of the virus.
The "Weird Al" Yankovic
song, Virus Alert, contains several similar claims in its lyrics.
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
hoax
Hoax
A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British...
sent out by e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
. This "virus" does not actually exist, and the "warning" is meant to parody the alarmist message that spread the hoax of the Goodtimes virus
Goodtimes virus
The Goodtimes Virus was a computer virus hoax that spread during the early years of the Internet's popularity. Warnings about a computer virus named "Good Times" began being passed around among Internet users in 1994...
. Like the "Goodtimes" hoax, the message warns of the horrible consequences that the virus can inflict; however, unlike "Goodtimes", where all of the consequences might have sounded plausible to people unfamiliar with computers, many of the claims made for the "Badtimes" virus are utterly implausible, such as that the virus "will drink all your good beer" and "will leave dirty socks on the coffee table when you are expecting company."
It is debatable whether the "Badtimes" message can be classed as a "hoax", since the intent seems to be to make the claims ludicrous enough to not fool anyone. However, Sophos
Sophos
Sophos is a developer and vendor of security software and hardware, including anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, network access control, encryption software and data loss prevention for desktops, servers, email systems and other network gateways....
' page on "Badtimes" classifies it under hoaxes and claims "... some users are still concerned by the message and we recommend you do not forward it to friends and colleagues."
The parody even inspired a musical version, by the group Laika
Laika (band)
Laika is a British alternative rock band founded in 1993 by ex-Moonshake members Margaret Fiedler and John Frenett, and producer/engineer Guy Fixsen. The band was named after the first animal to orbit the earth, the Russian dog Laika.-Sound:...
, where the female lyricist recites the contents of one of the versions of the virus.
The "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
song, Virus Alert, contains several similar claims in its lyrics.