Virus Alerts and Hoaxes
The spread of computer viruses is a legitimate threat, so it makes sense to be aware of the possibility. However, the best way to avoid viruses is not to respond to virus alerts, but rather to take simple precautions such as installing antivirus software on your computer and never opening attachments from senders you do not know and trust. See About Computer Viruses.
More often than not, virus alerts received as e-mail messages are hoaxes created by people who wish to take advantage of the quick hype they can generate. People attempting to be good web neighbors often forward these alerts to notify others about the emergence of a new virus, even though they have not taken the time to verify it. Hoaxes can be quite distracting — causing unnecessary confusion or alarm among the people who receive them.
Recognizing a Hoax
Hoaxes are usually simple to identify; it takes just a few minutes to recognize the clues:
- Does the e-mail have a long sequence of forwarded addresses?
- Does the alert demand that you "send this to everyone you know"?
- Does it begin with an attempt to legitimize itself (e.g., "I am a computer technician..." or "My friend works for XYZ computer company...")?
- Does it warn of exaggerated consequences?
What to Do with Virus Warnings
If you receive a virus warning, don’t panic. Do not forward the warning unless you have verified the threat with a reliable source, such as your IT staff or web pages such as McAfee’s Virus Hoaxes or Norton Antivirus Threat Explorer.
If the virus alert you received is in fact a hoax, call the person who passed it on to you and share the information. If the virus alert you received is legitimate, protect your agency by informing your technical support or other agency staff.
If you do send a virus alert yourself, do so responsibly by including a personal comment at the top, such as, "I have personally verified that this virus is real and not a hoax" and then insert a link to the verifying source of information.
