The following was posted to Wits End on Delphi in July 2000

Virus Alert!

Level: Extremely high and critical
Date first detected: July 26, 2000
Distribution method: email
Subject: Gobble Gobble

This virus is spreading like wildfire. It is spread through email. When opened, the GOBBLER virus attaches to Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. It then accesses numerous search engines, such as Alta Vista, GOOGLE, NetCrawler, and others.

It searches on the criteria Turkeys. It then opens site after site associated with "turkeys". Once the site is opened, the GOBBLER virus causes all letters and images from the web site to fall off of the monitor in a heap. If undetected, millions of letters and turkey pictures will be all over and around the infected computer.

In Aston, Pennsylvania, Joe Lucci's computer was infected. He left his computer room, and unbeknownst to him, millions of turkey images and billions of letters filled up his computer room. When he returned and opened his door, he was literally crushed.

He was admitted to Chester Crozer Hospital in serious but stable condition. When interviewed, he responded that he only remembers opening the computer room door. After learning that it was the GOBBLER virus, he stated that he wished he had been infected with the WOBBLER virus instead.

This is an extremely harmful virus. So far, it has actually caused bodily damage. Everyone on the Internet must be made aware of this virus, before someone is killed. There is no known cure or antidote.

If your computer is infected, immediately unplug it and get it out of the building. Once outside, the computer must be destroyed and broken into smithereens. It is estimated that if this virus continues to spread unchecked, the entire surface of planet earth will be covered in letters and turkey images by September 1, 2000.

Please send this message to everyone you know. It is imperative that we act now to save planet earth.