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VIRUS WARNING. We are grateful to <FCHarri(a)aol.com> for passing
along this virus warning.
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,
e-mail 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 Hoaxes 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; and 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 e-mail, 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 on-line 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.asp
Dr. Solomon's Hoax Page at
http://www.drsolomons.com/vircen/vanalyse/va005.html
The Urban Legends Archive 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
Sandra [T.YLER] D.UNCAN purplevw @
sl.net
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