*************************************************************
WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER, AND BEWARE!
Gullibility Virus Spreading over the Internet!
*************************************************************
WASHINGTON, D.C.--The Institute for the Investigation of Irregular
Internet
Phenomena announced today that many Internet users are becoming infected
by
a new virus that causes them to believe without question every
groundless
story, legend, and dire warning that shows up in their inbox or on their
browser. The Gullibility Virus, as it is called, apparently makes people
believe and forward copies of silly hoaxes relating to cookie recipes,
email
viruses, taxes on modems, and get-rich-quick schemes.
"These are not just readers of tabloids or people who buy lottery
tickets
based on fortune cookie numbers," a spokesman said. "Most are otherwise
normal people, who would laugh at the same stories if told to them by a
stranger on a street corner." However, once these same people become
infected with the Gullibility Virus, they believe anything they read on
the
Internet.
"My immunity to tall tales and bizarre claims is all gone," reported one
weeping victim. "I believe every warning message and sick child story my
friends forward to me, even though most of the messages are anonymous."
Another victim, now in remission, added, "When I first heard about Good
Times, I just accepted it without question. After all, there were dozens
of
other recipients on the mail header, so I thought the virus must be
true."
It was a long time, the victim said, before she could stand up at a
Hoaxes
Anonymous meeting and state, "My name is Jane, and I've been hoaxed."
Now,
however, she is spreading the word. "Challenge and check whatever you
read,"
she says.
Internet users are urged to examine themselves for symptoms of the
virus,
which include the following:
The willingness to believe improbable stories without thinking. The
urge to forward multiple copies of such stories to others. A lack of
desire to take three minutes to check to see if a story is true.
T. C. is an example of someone recently infected. He told one reporter,
"I read on the Net that the major ingredient in almost all shampoos
makes your hair fall out, so I've stopped using shampoo." When told
about the Gullibility Virus, T. C. said he would stop reading email, so
that
he would not become infected.
Anyone with symptoms like these is urged to seek help immediately.
Experts recommend that at the first feelings of gullibility, Internet
users rush to their favorite search engine and look up the item tempting
them to thoughtless credence. Most hoaxes, legends, and tall tales have
been widely discussed and exposed by the Internet community.
Courses in critical thinking are also widely available, and there is
online help from many sources, including
Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability at
http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html
Symantec Anti Virus Research Center at
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html
McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List at
http://www.mcafee.com/support/hoax.html
Dr. Solomons Hoax Page at
http://www.drsolomons.com/vircen/hoax.html
The Urban Legends Web Site at
http://www.urbanlegends.com
Urban Legends Reference Pages at
http://www.snopes.com
Datafellows Hoax Warnings at
http://www.Europe.Datafellows.com/news/hoax.htm
Those people who are still symptom free can help inoculate themselves
against the Gullibility Virus by reading some good material on
evaluating
sources, such as
Evaluating Internet Research Sources at
http://www.sccu.edu/faculty/R_Harris/evalu8it.htm
Evaluation of Information Sources at
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~agsmith/evaln/evaln.htm
Bibliography on Evaluating Internet Resources at
http://refserver.lib.vt.edu/libinst/critTHINK.HTM
Lastly, as a public service, Internet users can help stamp out the
Gullibility Virus by sending copies of this message to anyone who
forwards
them a hoax.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mailadmin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2001 2:15 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [IMail Forum] New virus ??
This one is a hoax. I got an email about it from a customer on Tuesday.
I
found it on McAfee's site under "hoax's"
David Daniels
System Administrator
Starfish Internet Service
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Clicking my fingers to the bone"
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew P. Kaplan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "IMail_Forum" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2001 2:15 PM
Subject: [IMail Forum] New virus ??
>
> I saw this on a list, but didn't see anything on their site. Anyone
> have more info. Should be easy to block
>
>
> > A new virus has just been discovered that has been classified by
Microsoft
> > (www.microsoft.com) and by McAfee (www.mcafee.com) as the most
destructive
> > ever! This virus was discovered yesterday afternoon by McAfee and no
> > vaccine has yet been developed. This virus simply destroys Sector
> > Zero from
> > the hard disk, where vital information for its functioning are
> > stored. This
> > virus sends itself automatically to all contacts on your list with
the
> > title "A Virtual Card for You". When the supposed virtual card is
opened,
> > the computer freezes so that the user has to reboot. When the keys
or
the
> > reset button are pressed, the virus destroys Sector Zero, thus
permanently
> > destroying the hard disk. According to news broadcast by CNN
> > (www.cnn.com).
> > This VIRUS received by an employee of Microsoft itself. So don't
open
any
> > emails with subject "A Virtual Card for You". As soon as you get
> > the email,
> > delete it. Please pass on this mail to your friends. Forward this to
> > everyone in your address book. I would rather receive this 25 times
than
> > not at all.
> >
> > Also: Intel announced that a new and very destructive virus was
discovered
> > recently. If you receive an email called "An Internet Flower For
You",
do
> > not open it. Delete it right away! It removes all dynamic link
> > libraries(.dll files) from your computer. Your computer will not be
able
> > to boot up.
>
>
> Andrew P. Kaplan, CNE, MCSE+Internet, MCT, CCNA, CCDA
> CyberShore, Inc. -- Premium Internet Services --
http://www.cshore.com
>
> --- To understand recursion, one must first understand recursion.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Please visit http://www.ipswitch.com/support/mailing-lists.html
> to be removed from this list.
>
> An Archive of this list is available at:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/imail_forum%40list.ipswitch.com/
>
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