Virus warnings should be checked against a company that
works with viruses (like Symantec). The following two links show this to
be a hoax:
In general you can avoid any virus by not opening an email attachment
unless you know exactly what it is and by not using an email program that
automatically opens attachments (like Outlook).
For more info see the links below:
http://www.geocities.com/stauffer_james/Literature/EmailHoaxes.txt
http://HoaxBusters.ciac.org/
http://www.thisistrue.com/spam.html
The Internet is full of Urban Legends and hoaxes. It's a
good idea to not forward anything unless you verify it is true.
Here is a handy guide about some of the most common mistakes
made by those of us with e-mail:
From: owner-mikeys-funnies@youthspecialties.com
E-MAIL FACTS OF LIFE
1. Big companies don't do business via chain letter. Bill Gates is not
giving you $1000, and Disney is not giving you a free vacation. There is no
baby food company issuing class-action checks. You can relax; there is no
need to pass it on "just in case it's true." Furthermore, just because
someone said in the message, four generations back, that "we checked it out
and it's legit," does not actually make it true.
2. There is no kidney theft ring in New Orleans. No one is waking up in a
bathtub full of ice, even if a friend of a friend swears it happened to
their cousin. If you are insistent on believing the kidney-theft ring
stories, please see:
And I quote: "The National Kidney Foundation has repeatedly issued requests
for actual victims of organ thieves to come forward and tell their stories.
None have." That's "none," as in "ZERO". Not even your friend's cousin.
3. Neiman Marcus doesn't really sell a $200 cookie recipe. And even if they
do, we all have it. And even if you don't, you can get a copy at:
http://www.bl.net/forwards/cookie.html
Then, if you make the recipe, decide the cookies are that awesome, feel
free to pass the recipe on. (But I hear they stink.)
4. We all know all 500 ways to drive your roommates crazy, irritate
co-workers, gross-out bathroom stall neighbors, and creep out people on an
elevator. We also know exactly how many engineers, college students, Usenet
posters, and people from each and every world ethnicity it takes to change
a light bulb.
5. Even if the latest NASA rocket disaster(s) DID contain plutonium that
went to particulate over the eastern seaboard, do you REALLY think this
information would reach the public via an AOL chain-letter?
6. There is no "Good Times" virus. In fact, you should never, ever, ever
forward any email containing any virus warning unless you first confirm it
at an actual site of an actual company that actually deals with virii. Try:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
And even then, don't forward it. We don't care.
7. If your CC: list is regularly longer than the actual content of your
message, you're probably going to be punished eternally. (Ever heard of BCC:?)
8. If you're using Outlook, IE, or Netscape to write email, turn off "HTML
encoding." Those of us on Unix shells can't read it, and don't care enough
to save the attachment and then view it with a web browser, since you're
probably forwarding us a copy of the Neiman-Marcus Cookie Recipe anyway.
9. If you still absolutely MUST forward that 10th-generation message from a
friend, at least have the decency to trim the eight miles of headers
showing everyone else who's received it over the last 6 months. It sure
wouldn't hurt to get rid of all the ">" that begin each line. Besides, if
it has gone around that many times, we've probably already seen it.
10. Craig Shergold in England is not dying of cancer or anything else at
this time and would like everyone to stop sending him their business cards.
He apparently is also no longer a "little boy" either.
11. The American Cancer Society is not paying 3 cents per e-mail sent
for a cancer patient....several variations on this one. See:
.
12. There is no gang initiation plot to murder any
motorist who flashes headlights at another car driving
at night without lights.
13. If you're using Outlook, IE, or Netscape to write
email, turn off the "HTML encoding." Those of us on
Unix shells can't read it, and don't care enough to
save the attachment and then view it with a web
browser since you're probably forwarding us a copy of
the Neiman Marcus Cookie Recipe anyway.
14. The "Make a Wish" foundation is a real
organization doing fine work, but they have had to
establish a special toll free hot line in response to
the large number of Internet hoaxes using their good
name and reputation. It is distracting them from the
important work they do. Also, the American Cancer
Society does not give 3 cents for each person you
forward e-mail to. They ask for you to donate money,
they don't give it, as if they could know how many
e-mails you sent out...sheesh.
15. If you are one of those insufferable idiots who
forwards anything that "promises" something bad will
happen if you "don't," -then something bad will happen
to you if I ever meet you in a dark alley.
16. Women really are suffering in Afghanistan, but
forwarding an e-mail won't help their cause in the
least. If you want to help, contact your local
legislative representative, or get in touch with
Amnesty International or the Red Cross.
17. As a general rule, e-mail "signatures" are easily
faked and mean nothing to anyone with any power to do
anything about whatever the competition is complaining
about.
18. KFC really does use real Chickens with feathers
and beaks and feet. No, they really do. Why did they
change their name? In this health conscious world,
what was KFC's name? Kentucky FRIED Chicken. FRIED >
is not healthy. So with the help of a focus group,
they changed the name to KFC. It's short, doesn't
offend dieters and it's easy to remember.
19. Another thing, just because someone said in a
message, four generations back, that "we checked it
out and it's legit," does not actually make it true.
20. Madeline Murray O'Hare is not trying to get "Touched
by an Angel" removed from TV. Ms. O'Hare is presumed
dead and they may have just found her remains.
21. There is no bill pending before Congress that will
allow long distance companies to charge you for using
the Internet.
Bottom Line... composing e-mail or posting something
on the Net is as easy as writing on the walls of a
public rest room. Don't automatically believe it until
it's proven false...ASSUME it's false, unless there
is proof that it's true.
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