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Dr Mac
Another reprise---just staying ahead of the reaper...!
Author Message Dr. Mac Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Sep 2002 Posts: 72 Location:
North Yorkshire,
Originally Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2002 4:37 pm Post subject:
Virus Hoax : READ before doing anything!
Dear Members
The Moderators have asked me to make this post.
It is a well-known fact that many "warnings" you get about a "dangerous virus" are hoaxes.
You will ALWAYS be told things like "Microsoft said ..." and "There is no cure ..." You will be told "It totally screws up your hard drive ... " etc. etc.
Now ... can you tell me WHY somebody living on the other side of the planet - who doesn't even know you - would bother to send you such a "warning" ??? Oh! Your friend sent you the information?
Well, where did THEY get it from ? In many cases, you are told to look for a certain file on your computer, and delete it. And in most cases it is a perfectly innocent file as far as being "infected" goes. Worse still, it may be a critically important file that, if deleted, screws up your PC.
And that is the whole intent of the sicko's who send you these "helpful" warnings!
DON'T FALL FOR THESE HOAXES. BEFORE you do ANYTHING, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS :
1) Check with one of the reputable viral information agencies AND ...
2) Come to IDF50. Look to see if anybody has posted something about your "virus" ...
and if you can't see anything ... THEN ASK !!!
Here are some good sources to consult:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html
http://www.virusbtn.com/resources/hoaxes/index.xml
http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/virus.htm
REMEMBER - DON'T FALL FOR THESE "WARNINGS" - and PLEASE
(and we KNOW you mean well) - do NOT
post "warnings" on the IDF50 Forum unless you have done some thorough
research FIRST.
Dr. Mac
Dr. Mac's Computer ClinicsFor FREE computer training click here
www.idf50.co.uk/techtipslibrary.htm