Description: The !0000 tip began as a misguided attempt to be helpful. The hoax instructs users to add the bogus !0000 name to their email address book in an effort to thwart email worms. The author assumed that the worm would try to send itself to all addresses listed in the address book and an error would be generated because of the !0000 address.

Why it won't work: Email worms rarely send only to the Windows address book. Even fewer worms send to all addresses at once. Most of today's email worms harvest email addresses from all over the system, including from .TXT, .DOC, and .HTM files, as well as the Windows address book. Most newer worms also contain their own SMTP engine, thus they work independently of the mail client and the supposed alert would never be generated.

What makes it dangerous: Besides leading to a false sense of security, adding the bogus entry could lead to a leak of private files. Since some address books won't accept an entry without an email address, the tip recommends using !0000@novirus.com or some other bogus address. Thus, email worms that send out confidential or personal documents put the owners of these domains in a position to harvest a lot of personal details on worm victims, if they so desired.

Example of hoax email: 

Subject: Stop the spread of pc viruses great little trick!

Here's a little trick you can use to stop the spread of pc viruses -

Naturally this doesn't deal with the issue of the fact that viruses exist in the first place, but it does help you protect your Email software and contact list...

Create a contact in your email address book with the name !0000 with no email address in the details. This contact will then show up as your first contact. If a virus attempts to do a "send all" on your contact list, your pc will pop up an error message saying that: "The Message could not be sent. One or more recipients do not have an e-mail address. Please check your address Book and make sure all the recipients have a valid e-mail address."

You click on OK and the offending (virus) message would not have been sent to anyone. Of course no changes have been made to your original contacts list. The offending (virus) message may then be automatically stored in your "Drafts" or "Outbox" folder. Go in there and delete the offending message. Problem is solved and virus will not spread. Try this and pass on to your email contacts. This little trick can save a lot of trouble later.

This also works with any name as long as there isn't an email address. Point to make: Some email programs won't allow you to make a new contact without an email address associated with the name, so I create a ficticious addy like !0000@novirus.com to apply to those email programs.

Related hoaxes: 
AAAAA.AAA variation
!0000 Tip: Commentary

Remember: 
Hoaxes are a waste of both time and money. Please don't forward them on to others. And if you are tempted to forward something just in case, read the article Toxic Excuses instead.

 
 ~ Mary Landesman