Coca Cola Christmas Promotion-Virus!

Coca Cola "is proud to announce a new Christmas promotion"-Virus!

Summary of the eRumor:
A forwarded email announcing "a new Christmas Promotion" for 2008 from Coca Cola. You could win a trip to the Bahamas and a life time supply of Coca Cola by playing an online game.

The Truth:
According to McAfee Inc, this email is infected with the W32/Xirtem@MM worm virus. This is assessed as a low risk virus and up to date virus protection software should intercept and neutralize it.

The W32/Xirtem@MM, according to McAfee, "is a mass mailing worm that also spreads through removable media using autorun.inf, and also by copying itself to Shared folders of Peer-2-Peer applications."

Other versions of this infected email may mention McDonalds and a card from Hallmark.

Click here for the McAfee information page

updated 12/13/08

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Version#1

Coca Cola is proud to announce our new Christmas Promotion.

December, 2008
Play our fantastic new online game for your chance to WIN a trip to the Bahamas and get all Coca Cola drinks for free in the rest of your life. See the attachment for details.

The trademarks listed are owned or used under license by The Coca-Cola Company and its related affiliates, as of December 31, 2006.
These trademarks may be owned or licensed in select locations only. © 2008 The Coca-Cola Company, all rights reserved

Version #2

McDonald's is proud to present our latest discount menu.

Simply print the coupon from this Email and head to your local McDonald's for FREE giveaways and AWESOME savings.