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technofile Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983 How to tell if a virus warning is a hoaxMay 9, 2001 By Al Fasoldt Copyright © 2001, Al Fasoldt Copyright © 2001, The Syracuse Newspapers I'm sure this has happened to you or to someone you know: An e-mail letter arrives warning of a new computer virus that can wipe out your hard drive or do something else that's equally nefarious. Is the warning real or is it a hoax? With an estimated 50,000 viruses for Windows PCs alone, the problem of avoiding virus infections is serious indeed. But how can you tell hoaxes from actual warnings about viruses? I'm asked this kind of question every couple of days. The answer is surprisingly simple. Just follow the three rules of virus checking: 1. If you get a letter warning of a "virus" written by a stranger (even if it's passed along by someone you know), it's probably a hoax. 2. If there are any exclamation marks in the original "warning" letter or if it has a breathless tone, it's clearly a hoax. 3. If you get a warning that seems to get past the first two rules OK, but you can't find any reference to the name of the virus when you search any of the main virus-information sites, the "warning" probably is a hoax. Rule 1 takes care of nearly all the so-called virus "warnings" you're likely to get by e-mail. Strangers simply don't send out virus warnings. That's not the way human nature works. They might send out unsolicited junk e-mail or "warnings" about fake viruses, and they might even send you real viruses. (After all, the most common way viruses spread is through e-mail.) But strangers just plain won't send you a letter warning you about a real virus. It doesn't happen. Rule 2 reinforces the common sense of Rule 1. Legitimate organizations that warn people about computer viruses always do it in a calm and cool way. They never "shout" at you or fill their notices with exclamation marks. You will never get a real virus information notice that WARNS!!! you to be CAREFUL!!!! about something that COULD WIPE OUT YOUR HARD DRIVE!!!!! Rule 2 also asks all of us to use our heads. If I stopped you on a street corner and told you I had a foolproof way to make a million dollars and would cut you in on the deal if you'd give me $10,000 in cash, you'd push me away and keep on walking. You have to act the same way when you get a fake warning about a virus in the mail. Delete the message and go on to other things. Don't send it along to someone else. Rule 3 is usually overlooked. If you have an Internet account that includes Web access (some e-mail users don't, in case you're wondering), do a quick search using the Google search engine (at www.google.com). Type the name of the purported virus and press the Enter key. If Google finds nothing, go to a site that specializes in virus hoaxes and run a search. Here are three such sites: http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp http://www.stiller.com/hoaxes.htm http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html |