The following information will help you understand the difference between a
legitimate virus alert and a hoax.
Definitions
Alert: an e-mail message that announces the spread of a new computer virus.
Hoax: a false virus alert, often widely disseminated by people with good intentions but poor information.
Concept
It
is wise to be concerned about the spread of computer viruses. People
attempting to be good web neighbors will often send out alerts to
notify their online acquaintances about the emergence of a new virus
and how to recognize it.
Some unsavory characters take advantage of the hype
generated by viruses and create their own false alerts. While hoaxes
are not harmful they do take up a lot of space on the already
bogged-down Internet, and they are yet something else to deal with in a
busy workday.
Recognize a Hoax
Hoaxes are usually simple to recognize - if you have the time to do
so. Most people are so busy, and have so many other e-mail messages to
read, that they rarely take the time to critically analyze an otherwise
obvious virus alert hoax. Below are some clues to help expose hoaxes.
A virus alert is probably a hoax if:
- It has an extremely long sequence of forwarded addresses
- It demands that you SEND THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
- It opens with an attempt to legitimize itself
- "I am a computer technician..."
- "My friend works for XYZ computer company..."
- It warns of exaggerated consequences
What to do with hoaxes
If you receive a warning about a virus DON'T PANIC, and do not send the warning out to everyone you know.
- Go
to a reliable web site that posts information about viruses and hoaxes
to VERIFY that the virus is real. Refer to the Resources list below for
appropriate sites.
- If the email is a hoax, call the person who passed the bogus
information on to you and EDUCATE them by telling them these steps.
If the virus is real, PROTECT your agency by informing your Technology Support staff and/or the rest of your agency staff.
- RESPONSIBLY
INFORM others you know by including a statement like: "I have
personally verified that this virus is real and not a hoax" and insert
a link to the verifying source of information.
- PREVENT your own personal disaster by ensuring that you
have active virus protection software installed on your computer and
update it routinely. New viruses are invented monthly.
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