Aug 28 2003
Hoaxes
Let’s start this off with the good stuff, then go on to my ramblings. Hoaxes are bad, a waste of time and energy, and can only be combated with education. If you recieve a chain email warning you about a new virus or worm, check one of these sites before forwarding the email:
You can also do a search on Google using the phrase ‘virus hoax’.
As a security professional, I have a hard enough time keeping up with all the real threats to the networks I protect, let alone trying to keep up with all the hoaxes and mis-information floating around out there. It usually only takes me a couple of minutes to look up a hoax, but that’s a couple of minutes I could have used to research a real threat.
The bottom line is this; take the time to research ‘virus warnings’ before forwarding them to your dozen closest friends. It only takes a few minutes, and it will save your friends a lot of unnecessary anxiety.
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