Stop sending this crap to the list... -----Original Message----- From: Renaud OLGIATI [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 10:51 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Gavin; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Gullibility Virus Spreading over the Internet!, was Re: [newbie] Fwd: possible virus *********************************************************************** 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 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> <http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.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> * Computer Virus Myths home page at <http://www.kumite.com/myths> * IBM - antivirus online hype alerts at <http://www.av.ibm.com/BreakingNews/HypeAlert/> * NCSA/ICSA Main Menu <http://www.ncsa.com/services/consortia/anti-virus/alerthoax.html> Hoaxes and myths on the Internet: * 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> * Don't Spread that Hoax! <http://www.nonprofit.net/hoax/index.html> 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. On Tue, 26 Sep 2000, Gavin wrote: > To the House of Mandrake, > I'm sending you this message from Japan which was sent to me by my brother in Az. > This letter has nothing to do with mandrake, but for some of you who still use windows, Please > take heed in this letter and don't let it happen to you, as of now I don't know if it will affect linux or not > but I'm sending it anyway.. <snip> -- The probability of someone watching you is proportional to the stupidity of your action. --- http://personales.conexion.com.py/~rolgiati ---
