Irina and MMF Virus hoaxes

"The entire hoax was orchestrated by Penguin Books as a
publicity stunt for a new interactive book called "Irina".

According to the Daily Telegraph, Guy Gadney (the former
head of electronic publishing at Penguin) sent out a bogus
letter to newspapers and television stations giving a
warning about the "Irina" virus.  The message claimed to be
from Professor Edward Pridedaux of the College of Slavonic
Studies in London.

Prideaux is one of the main characters in the Irina book
Penguin is planning to launch.  Some newspapers received six
copies of the bogus letter, all signed by Professor Prideaux, but
making no mention of Penguin Books, a publicity campaign or
that the warning was a PR stunt.

The hoax was eventually traced back to Penguin via the
envelopes used. The College of Slavonic Studies does not
exist.  But London's School of Slavonic and East European
Studies said it had been inundated with calls to the
fictitious Professor Prideaux."