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take a deep breath and use common sense

Do not panic! Do not be intimidated! Do not forward the fear-producing message on to your friends! Virus hoaxes are commonplace by now, as they have been around for over a decade. These messages fuel the already existing paranoia amongst Internet users, and especially those who are not yet "immune" to or prepared for hoax messages. This handy-dandy web page, provided by CIAC, gives you a brief look into the history of hoaxes, tips on how to identify hoaxes, instructions on what to do (and NOT to do) if you encounter a virus alert message, and a listing (though admittedly not comprehensive) of virus hoaxes that may cross your path. Panic and mindless forwarding perpetuate these pesky rumors. Resist the impulse to react, do some investigating, and/or call your security manager.

Thu, 23 Dec 1999 07:13:05 -0800

Submitted by: Allison Conner