We have all gotten
well-intentioned email warnings about some virus that is possibly the
worst ever found. Many people simply delete these messages. Others
forward the emails on in the chance that this virus COULD be a real
threat. But how do you know? Are you doing more damage than good? And
why is this a big deal?
Welcome to the world of
the email virus hoax, a confusing and misunderstood threat. Let's
begin with why this is a threat. Email hoaxes promote fear. They make
you pause. They waste your time. They scare some people into not using
technology to its fullest extent for fear of contracting a dangerous
virus. Some virus hoaxes are damaging because they are simply not
true, such as hoaxes that state you don't need an anti-virus solution.
Most hoaxes contain one
or more of the following characteristics:
· Warnings about
alleged new viruses and their damaging consequences
· Demands for the
reader to forward the warning to as many people as possible
· Pseudo-technical
"information" describing the virus
· Bogus comments
from officials: FBI, software companies, news agencies, etc.
It is a good idea to update these files weekly. For the latest DAT
file updates click on the following link:
http://download.mcafee.com/updates/updates.asp
Visit
http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp for a current list of
virus warnings and hoaxes.
To purchase McAfee home edition software,
http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/antivirus.asp
Updates for VirusScan, and all McAfee products that include
VirusScan, ensure that your virus protection is constantly updated as
cures for new virus threats are published. The cures are included in a
virus definition file called a DAT file.
It is a good idea to update these files weekly. For the latest DAT
file updates click on the following link:
http://download.mcafee.com/updates/updates.asp
