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warning: e-mail viruses...
#1 · December 16, 1997, 2:17 am
Posted by: thehold <thehold@...>
>******************************************************************
>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 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
> ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html
> Symantec Anti Virus Research Cehtml
> 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
> 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 allfriends 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!
>
>
>
>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 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
> ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html
> Symantec Anti Virus Research Cehtml
> 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
> 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 allfriends 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!
>
>
>
Jeff and Belinda Smith - WilderLands Hold <*))))))<
===================================================
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed people can change the world...
"Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has!"
===================================================
Beaverton, OR <http://www.teleport.com/~thehold>