The fact-check archive.
Thousands of dissected hoaxes in Indonesian and English: the claim, what the fact-checkers found, and the sources to verify it yourself.
92 fact-checks for “vaksin OR kesehatan OR obat OR virus OR kanker OR vaccine”
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What is the Difference Between Malware and Viruses?
Question from Reader: I hear a lot about malware and virus threats. It seems that some articles I read call a threat ‘malware’ while others call what seems like the same threat a ‘virus’. Is there are a difference?
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jul 25, 2017
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‘Trump Suffering from a Stroke’ Virus Hoax
According to a message that circulates via WhatsApp, SMS, and social media websites, opening a picture of Donald Trump suffering from a stroke will destroy all of the information on your phone and computer.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 17, 2018
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‘Major Hack’ Facebook Virus Warning Message
The attack described is real, although details are currently sketchy. The text of the messages and the name of the malicious attachment vary considerably.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 7, 2014
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Android Phone Users Plagued by Fake Virus Alerts
While visiting a website on your Android phone, a popup alert suddenly appears that claims that your phone has several viruses that you will need to remove immediately.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 28, 2018
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Giraffe Profile Picture Virus Hoax
The claims in the warning are nonsense and sharing it will help nobody. There is no such virus. The threat described in the message is in no way related to a JPEG vulnerability that was discovered and fixed several years ago.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Oct 28, 2013
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Sleeper Virus – Downadup or Conficker Worm Warnings
This story was first published in January 2009. Back in 2009, messages that circulating via email, blogs, and online communities were warning computer users about a “sleeper” virus dubbed the “Downadup” or “Conficker” worm.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 26, 2009
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Simon Ashton Email Hacker Hoax
This story was first published on 25th April 2008
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 7, 2017
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Mobile Phone Misinformation – XALAN and #90 Hoax
This report was first published in November 2005. A would-be warning, which has been circulating since at least 2005, claims that scammers are hijacking mobile phones by tricking users into pressing a specific combination of digits.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 15, 2017
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Fake AppleCare Virus Warning Pop-Ups Link to Malware
Note: As discussed below, very similar scams target iOS and Android phone users and those who use Windows-based computers. This report focuses on the version of the scam that targets Mac computer users.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 9, 2018
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Salt Water Ebola Prevention Hoax Leads to Deaths
A social media hoax, which falsely claimed that drinking or bathing in salt water could prevent infection from the deadly Ebola virus, has reportedly led to at least two deaths.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Oct 9, 2014
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Old “Do Not Accept Friend Request”; Hacker Hoax Returns With a Small Grain Of Truth
As I describe in more detail below, this supposed hacker warning is derived from a long line of very similar hacker hoaxes that have circulated for many years.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 27, 2017
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Christopher and Jessica Davies Now Dancing With The Pope
Hoaxes tend to mutate as they make their way around the interwebs. And, often, some helpful prankster will combine two or more previous hoaxes into one and relaunch the newly minted variant on an unsuspecting Internet public.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Dec 28, 2017
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‘Koobface Trojan Worm’ Facebook Warning – Elements of Truth Mixed With Inaccurate Information
A post currently circulating on Facebook is warning users not to accept messages from their friends that ask them to watch a video on YouTube. The first part of the circulating message contains elements of truth that should be heeded.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Nov 25, 2017
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WhatsApp Gold and Martinelli – How a Valid Warning Got Mixed Up With a Silly Hoax
Image: © depositphotos.com/eskaylim According to a message that regularly makes the rounds via WhatsApp, you should not open any message prompting you to update to WhatsApp Gold. It warns that WhatsApp Gold is a virus.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Nov 22, 2018
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Alarmist and Inaccurate Swine Flu Warning
According to this emailed warning message, H1N1 (swine flu) is currently wiping out entire villages in parts of Asia and has already mutated into a more deadly strain.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jul 31, 2009
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DVSA Receipt Malware Email
This email, which purports to be from the Fixed Penalty Office at the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), claims that your DVSA receipt is included in an attached Microsoft Word document.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 15, 2016
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‘Security Notice’ Sextortion Scam Email
According to this email, which bills itself as a security notice, the sender installed a “trojan virus” on your computer when you visited an adult website.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 26, 2019
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‘Satanic Agents Looking for Blood ‘ WhatsApp Warning Hoax
The claims in the supposed warning are fanciful nonsense. Nobody in Khomas or anywhere else in the world has died just from receiving a phone call or text message.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 11, 2017
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HSBC ‘Payment Advice’ Malware Email
This email purports to be a payment advice from Global Payments and Cash Management at HSBC. The ‘auto-generated’ email suggests that you open an attached file to view the payment advice document.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 29, 2018
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Flu Remedy Myth – Onions Absorb Viruses and Bacteria From a Room
This story was first published on February 17th 2011
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 21, 2018
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.