Joke Programs

any applications have been categorized as joke programs. They mostly intend to entertain or frustrate a recipient. In actuality, joke programs have shown to inflict no damage other that raising a user’s concern about the content found on the screen or in their inbox. They contain no malicious codes or virus droppers. They often trick a user into believing their files will be deleted because of an automated reformatting process. A dialog box will display a countdown, preventing a user from clicking the cancel button. The joke is revealed once the countdown ends, normally ridiculing the recipient. While joke programs do not necessarily pose as a direct threat, they can prove to be a serious risk. They often place fear and panic into a user, causing them to inflict damage by improperly shutting down their system to avoid a supposed hard drive format. By doing this, a user runs a great risk of damaging important files.