Posting Guidelines for CFS-20s
Virus Warnings
These Guidelines may not be copied, distributed or altered without the express
permission of its Author.
Although we applaud the sentiment behind wanting to warn fellow list members about
possible viruses doing the rounds, we do ask for *no* Virus Warnings
to be posted to the list by our members.
False warnings/information can potentially be as damaging as real viruses, and they
spread much faster. They can also be very distressing to those who do not realize they
are hoaxes, and can cause a lot of unnecessary panic, which as we all know is not a good
thing for us sickies! Not only this, but if you were to post a false warning to the list
(and probably many of your friends), you are likely to get several responses telling you
it is a hoax. All this creates extra mail, which can cause extra work, and expense, for
those who read the list in digest, have to have the posts printed out, or who pay by
the minute for on-line time. It also takes up precious bandwidth on the Internet. Also
for those of us who have been on the Internet for a while, these messages can get very
frustrating, because we see them over and over again. All this can be prevented by
not posting virus warnings to the list, and just taking a couple minutes
to learn how to spot Hoax warnings yourself, so that in in the future, upon receiving
virus warnings, you will quickly be able to tell whether they are hoaxes or not.
We do have a few people on the list, who are pretty clued up about viruses,
so you needn't worry that you may not get to hear about a new viruses doing the rounds.
When necessary, they they will post warnings of genuine viruses to the list, and provide
information on how to protect yourself, and links to where you can get further
information/help. Should you receive a virus warning that, after checking it out at the
sites below, you think is genuine, then please *do not* post it to the
list, send it to one of us, and we will double check it,
just in case, and if necessary, forward it on to the list on your behalf.
How To Spot A Hoax
Firstly it is important to know that when a new virus or security breach is 'discovered',
companies such as IBM, AOL, Microsoft, etc. do not send out e-mails to be 'forwarded on'.
Instead, companies involved in the anti-virus and computer security industry, only post
such information to certain Newsgroups, Web Pages and Mailing Lists (see below). If the
message says anything like "Pass this on to all your friends" then the chances
are it is a hoax.
Just because someone claims to be a computer expert, even if they are a close friend or
relation, does not mean that they are experts on viruses/computer security (for an
interesting article on this 'False Authority Syndrome' go
here). So never trust any virus warnings, no
matter the source, unless you can verify them as being genuine at the sites listed below.
Warnings that proclaim that a certain virus will damage your hardware in any way, such as
by blowing up a chip, physically destroying a hard disk, damaging your monitor, etc. are
hoaxes. Viruses can not damage hardware. Warnings that tell you that by simply reading a
certain e-mail message will cause your computer to become infected by a virus are also
hoaxes. Viruses can not be activated by simply reading an e-mail, instead they have to be
executed as part of an attachment. So it is fine to read e-mail, just do not run/open any
attachments unless you are absolutely sure you know what it is, and know that it has come
from a reliable source.
Reliable Sources of Information on Virus Hoaxes
Symantec AntiVirus Research Center - Virus Hoaxes
DataFellows - Virus Hoaxes
CIAC - Internet Hoaxes
Computer Virus Myths Home Page
McAfee - Virus Hoaxes
Pottsnet - Virus Hoaxes
Trend Micro - Virus Hoaxes
Stiller Home Integrity Master - Internet Hoaxes
Reliable Sources of Information on Real Computer Viruses
Symantec AntiVirus Research Center - Viruses
DataFellows
McAfee - Viruses
Stiller Home Integrity Master - Viruses
Also, by searching on DejaNews for the subject of the
virus warning, or for a string of text from the warning itself, may turn up information
about whether it is a hoax or not.
If your still not sure whether a warning you have received is genuine or not, or need any
more help, then feel free to get in touch with us.
Return to the Top or the main
Posting Guidelines page.
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