Fact Check

WTC Survivor Virus

Information about the 'WTC Survivor' computer virus warning.

David Mikkelson

Published Mar 5, 2002

Virus:   "WTC Survivor."


Status:   Hoax.

Examples:   [Collected on the Internet, 2001]




(FOR THOSE THAT DONT KNOW, "WTC" STANDS FOR THE WORLD TRADE CENTER......WHICH MAKES THIS VIRUS REALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL OPEN IT RIGHT AWAY.....THINKING ITS A STORY RELATING TO 9/11.....PLEASE BE CAREFUL....... :)

BIGGGG TROUBLE !!!! DO NOT OPEN "WTC Survivor" It is a virus that will erase your whole "C" drive. It will come to you in the form of an E-Mail from a familiar person. I repeat a friend sent it to me, but called and warned me before I opened it. He was not so lucky and now he can't even start his computer! Forward this to everyone in your address book. I would rather receive this 25 times than not at all.

If you receive an email called "WTC Survivor" do not open it. Delete it right away! This virus removes all dynamic link libraries (.dll files) from your computer. This is a serious one.

During the next several weeks be VERY cautious about opening or launching any e-mails that refer to the World Trade Center or 9/11 in any way, regardless of who sent it. PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, "WTC" STANDS FOR THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. REALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL OPEN IT RIGHT AWAY, THINKING ITS A STORY RELATING TO 9/11!

BIGGGG TROUBLE !!!! DO NOT OPEN "WTC Survivor" It is a virus that will erase your whole "C" drive. It will come to you in the form of an E-Mail from a familiar person. I repeat, a friend sent it to me, but called and warned me before I opened it. He was not so lucky and now he can't even start his computer!

So, if you receive an email called "WTC Survivor", do not open it. Delete it right away! This virus removes all dynamic link libraries (.dll files) from your computer.



Origins:   Quick on the heels of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center came a variety of 9/11-themed viruses and virus hoaxes, including the

above-referenced "WTC Survivor" virus warning. This one was a hoax from the very beginning: there was never a rash of disabled computers or deleted DLL files caused by e-mail messages bearing the title "WTC Survivor." Nevertheless, this hoax continued to circulate with increasing frequency as the calendar approached September 11 in 2002 and again in 2003, and it has now become a year-around phenomenon.

In early 2004 a version appeared that concluded with the bare-faced assertion, "PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE! THIS MESSAGE CHECKED OUT ON SNOPES AND IS OKAY." Actually, e-mail tagline to the contrary, the "WTC Survivor" virus warning has always been a hoax and has always been identified as such on this site. Still, it's flattering that some hoaxsters thought so highly of our site that they invoked its name when trying to pull people's legs.

Additional information:



    WTC Survivor   WTC Survivor   (Symantec)
    WTC Survivor   WTC Survivor   (McAfee)

Last updated:   17 July 2005


By David Mikkelson

David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.