There is a tradition as old as the Internet of passing around bogus virus alerts, unbelievable stories, and fake news items. Try not to get suckered in�if it sounds too strange to be true, it probably is.

 

Hoax virus alarms circulate all the time - passed on by wellmeaning people who actually believe that they have received this important and urgent info before the official anti-virus sites even know about it! If you get one of these emails check the facts before you send it on around the world! When there is a new virus McAfee and Norton sites are quick to report it and put up details of what it is and how to deal with it. McAfee sends out an email whenever there is a new alert (Norton may well do this too...) - why not subscribe to that?

 

And if you get sent a story that you are not sure of look it up at Snopes (excellent resource) or Urban Legends .... the common hoaxes are listed there. Just DO NOT PASS THEM ON until you have checked.

 

Some of these hoaxes are really heart wrenching and you feel you HAVE to help to find the lost child, or to sign the petition to save the whatever... DON'T DO IT.  Look it up first.

 

The same rules apply about silly rumours, chain letters, petitions, or promises of riches!!!  Look them up before you send them on.  Some of them say "Send this to all your friends - and back to me."

 

Why on earth would you want to send a sentimental message to all your friends.... let alone back to the sender!! We all have masses of REAL mail to deal with every day, and this unnecessary clutter in our mailboxes can be an irritation. Of course it is good to know that your friends are thinking of you... but to be expected to continue a "chain letter" by sending the thing on and bunging up bandwidth is ridiculous - and childish. Not to mention bad net manners. Don't do it.