Viral 'Dance of the Hillary' WhatsApp message a hoax

PETALING JAYA: A viral WhatsApp message claiming that a video called "Dance of the Hillary" is a virus which formats their mobile phone is actually a hoax.

The message - which initially circulated in India  - also warned users that ATMs would be closed for the next few days due to the ransomware cyber attack, and urged them not to perform any online transactions until the issue was fixed.

"ATM’s will be closed for the next 2-3 days probably, due to ransomware cyber attack within India. So, if you need then please withdraw money today for the rest of the week at least. Don’t do any online transactions today," said the message.

The message was circulated widely and has even reached Malaysian users, but has been rubbished by the Reserve Bank of India, who said they were keeping a close watch on the situation involving the WannaCry ransomware attack. 

“Please inform all contacts from your list not to open a video called the ‘Dance of the Hillary’. It is a virus that formats your mobile. Beware it is very dangerous,” the message read, asking users to forward it to their contacts.

News portal India.com confirmed that message was false, and that no ATM’s had been shut down purportedly due to the cyber attack that is said to have affected more than 100 countries.

In an article published on its website Tuesday, it also refuted that the “Dance of the Hillary” video was a virus.

The claim that the so-called video will ruin one’s mobile phone is actually part of an old hoax that initially went viral in October last year.