Bogus Virus Alerts

[David Powelstock]

Dear SEELANGERs,

Please read the following message carefully.  Many of us are *sick* of
getting multiple copies of bogus e-mail virus alerts forwarded by
well-meaning users.  Opening a text file (e.g. an e-mail message) cannot
launch a virus-like program in your computer.  Rather, these warning
messages THEMSELVES ARE the virus, a harmless but annoying hoax, which the
forwarders help to spread.  Please EDUCATE yourselves by, for example,
checking out the Symantec web site Mr. Lunch cites below.  Thanks for your
attention.

David

> Subject:
> Date: Tuesday, February 25, 1997 2:09 PM
>
> Subject: Re: forward re: email
> In-reply-to: Your message of "Mon, 24 Feb 1997 17:18:42 EST."
>              <v0153052daf37c43ecac0@[128.135.206.134]>
> --------
>
> This message is in response to the mailing below about the "PENPAL
GREETINGS"
> email virus.  There is no such virus.  It is a hoax.  It is impossible
for a
> text email message to do any damage to your computer when simply read.
In the
> future, if you receive similar emails, please bring them to the attention
of
> your Departmental/Divisional computer support person.  He or she should
be
> able to determine the veracity of the message.  While new viruses do
appear
> each day, most of the "virus-warning" messages spread by email are
hoaxes.
> If you like, you can obtain a list of hoax viruses from the following web
> page: http://www.symantec.com/ns-search/avcenter/hoax.html
>
> Benjamin Lunch
> Distributed Systems Management Computer Support
> b-lunch at uchicago.edu