As a nontechie person, I found this useful.

Peter

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>From: "Frank Welte" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: How to tell a genuine Virus Warning
>Date: Fri, 5 May 2000 10:14:08 -0700
>X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300
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>
>+== acb-l Message from "Frank Welte" <[log in to unmask]> ==+
>I presume you all saw the virus allert that Charlie Crawford forwarded
>yesterday regarding the Iloveyou virus.  I want to take a moment to point
>out several aspects of that message that will help you distinguish a genuine
>virus alert from a virus hoax.
>
>1.  Nearly all virus warnings you receive via E-mail are fake, so if you get
>one examine it closely for validity before forwarding.  Make sure it passes
>the following tests.
>
>2.  The warning should give a specific description of the virus means of
>transmission and its effects.  Mr. Crawford's forwarded message explained
>the Iloveyou virus clearly, describe the message that carries it and listing
>the files it effects.  Vague, alarmist warnings such as "This virus will
>trash your hard drive" and any claim that a virus will destroy computer
>hardware is a sign of a hoax.
>
>3. A genuine virus warning should give a specific source for the warning.
>Again, the Iloveyou virus warning passes this test because it clearly states
>the reference from the Symantec web site where one can find more information
>about the virus.  Also the information source should be a reputable expert
>in the virus protection field, such as Symantec.  Virus hoax messages will
>claim a vague source such as IBM, Microsoft, or "the government" if any
>source is mentioned at all.
>
>4.  Really serious virus warnings will be relayed by the news media.
>Anybody listening to the radio yesterday heard about this current virus
>scare, and they didn't even have to look at their E-mail to get the news.
>
>The one area where the real warning co-incided with the numerous hoax
>messages was the invitation to forward the warning to each of the people in
>your address book.  Generally, this is not necessary (see #4 above).
>Besides, when these virus scares break out we'll all probably receive a half
>dozen copies of the warning anyway.
>
>Finally, save a copy of this message for future reference, send a copy to
>all your friends, enemies, co-workers, relatives, and spammers, and then
>NEVER, NEVER, NEVER forward another virus warning again!
>
>Frank Welte
>
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>* of the American Council of the Blind.                    *
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