Email Hoaxes
We've all received these at least once. I don't know how they get started, but once they get started, they seem to have a life like the Energizer Bunny, they 'keep going and going'.
I'm talking about all the warnings regarding virus! These warnings might be true, but usually aren't, and some of the things that will tip you off are listed here.
The subject might read 'New Virus Warning from Microsoft'. Folks, Microsoft is NOT in the virus warning business. Microsoft sells Windows, office software, games software and some other products, but they do not sell virus software. True, Microsoft is focusing on security these days, but they do not send or post virus warning. If you receive an email with 'New Virus Warning from Microsoft' in the subject, do NOT forward it.
Sometimes these warnings name other big company names like IBM, or a news site like CNN. They could even name an anti-virus vendor. Some of these companies have information on their websites, BUT they do NOT send virus warnings!
It is typical for the warnings to say 'This is the worst virus ever', it could also say 'it will make your computer useless', 'delete all your files', etc. (Most virus want you to send it on, can't do that if your computer is useless!)
Another big tip off is 'Send this email to everyone you know!' Don't send this email to everyone you know! Go to Snopes and find the hoax reference there, copy the page link, then reply to the sender with the pasted link so they will know they sent a hoax email. (Maybe this will embarrass them enough so the next time they will check it out before they forward another so-called warning!) It's a good idea to add Snopes to your Favorites or Bookmarks.
So the next time you get one of these 'virus warnings', don't panic, check it out, educate the sender and then delete it! There are other types of email hoaxes, some of them are pretty obviously hoaxes or should be recognized by most by most users. These fall into several categories, stupid, funny, playing on your sympathies or downright dangerous.
For a more comprehensive explanation of email hoaxes, look at 'Email Urban Legends' by James Huggins.