ES - [Fwd: FW: VERY IMPORTANT!! VIRUS WARNING]

Paul Mitchell pmitchel at flash.net
Fri Feb 6 07:35:46 PST 1998


CaptnAnn at AOL.com wrote:
> 
> Thanks for the info -- I've forwarded it to everyone I know, plus some I don't
> know.
> 
> CaptnAnn

I'm not sure whether Ann's joking here or not, but for those of us not
on the Ansteorra-armored-combat list, let me share with you a recent
post, 
responding to a virus warning posted there last night:

********************************************************************
> >
> >             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 samestories if  
told to them by a stranger on a streetcorner."  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 Hoaxees 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.

*******************************************************************

This message is so important, we're sending it anonymously!  Forward
it to all your friends right away!  Don't think about it!  This is
not a chain letter!  This story is true!  Don't check it out!  This  
story is so timely, there is no date on it!  This story is so  
important, we're using lots of exclamation points!  For every  
message you forward to some unsuspecting person, the Home for the  
Hopelessly Gullible will, donate ten cents to itself.  (If you  
wonder how the Home will know, you are forwarding these messages all  
over creation, you're obviously thinking too much.)

*******************************************************************

ACT NOW!  DON'T DELAY!  LIMITED TIME!  NOT SOLD IN ANY STORE!

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