An e-mail hoax is urging folks to find and delete the harmless “jdbgmgr.exe” file from their Windows-based computers.
This self-induced minor lobotomy kills the Java Debugger Manager — which really is represented by a teddy bear icon — can cause certain Java applets (small programs in their own right — to act buggy.
It’s not a mission critical file, so killing it won’t cripple your machine, but it may be really annoying.
Here’s the original e-mail:
Date Captured: 3/27/2002
Just wanted to let you know about this virus. I had it on my machine, you might want to check yours.
this virus was on the CHLSA computer, so since you are on our e-mail list, you have probably gotten it. The virus name is jdbgmgr.exe. It will remain in your system for 14 days before it erases all your files. It is not detected by Mc Afee or Norton.
To delete and eliminate it completely, please do the following:
1. Go to START- Find Files or Folders
2. Under name, type jdbgmgr.exe and click FIND NOW. Make sure you are looking under Drive C DO NOT CLICK ON IT IF IT APPEARS!!!
3. If the virus appears, ( the icon next to it will be a small teddy bear) DO NOT OPEN IT!!!
4. Right click on it and DELETE it. It will be sent to the Recycle Bin
5. After you see it dissappear, go to the Recycle Bin and Delete it from there as well. If at all possible, empth the Recycle Bin under FILE
If you find this virus in your system, please send this message to everyone in your address list asap before it causes any damage.
Plenty of sites on the web debunk this puppy, which is similar in theme to the earlier Sulfnbk.exe virus hoax. Apparently, the file in question — jdbgmgr.exe — can be the target of viruses, and who knows — maybe that targeting inadvertently resulted in someone creating this hoax, thinking that they were doing good. Some how I doubt that though.
Further muddying the waters, according to F-Secure’s May 2002 debunking mentions that a new variation on this thing includes a warning apparently sent by Symantec and includes a real virus as an attachment. Unfortunately, it doesn’t elaborate on the nature of that virus. At this point, the best advice is to a) not delete this file if you find it on your machine b) do not open any unexpected attachments from friends or strangers, and c) keep your anti-virus software up to date.
You can learn more by checking out the sites below: