Understanding the Virus Hoax

Is the virus hoax plaguing your organization? Are you embarrassing yourself over one of these well-known virus hoaxes ? Are you afraid there's a now a "gullible" sticker on your forehead since you've recently fallen for a one of the more common virus hoaxes?

Ten years ago, it was difficult to get a virus through anything but infected diskettes. Now it’s a lot easier to become a victim -- virus hoaxes make the problem ten times worse.

Plus highly destructive and rapidly propagating viruses can infect your hard drive through e-mail programs, Web browsers and other Internet-borne mechanisms. In fact, today’s virus hoaxes, more conventional viruses and security vulnerabilities make the primitive pre-Internet-era viruses seem utterly inconsequential.

Virus – any kind of malicious software code that can be delivered through a variety of mechanisms including conventional software media, Internet downloads, e-mail file attachments, file macros, scripting, ActiveX or Java applets, and instant-messaging software.

Avoid forwarding virus hoaxes.

The cyber equivalent of chain letters, virus hoaxes often instill fear, attempt to separate the recipient from his or her wallet and clog up Internet routers, mail servers and e-mail inboxes.

Exercise caution with virus hoaxes, even if you know the sender

Don’t let your guard down just because a friend, family member or colleague sent you the message (or perhaps one of those virus hoaxes).

Avoid getting caught up in emotional excitement.

The creators of virus hoaxes apparently have similar goals to those of virus creators: obstruct the flow of Internet data by overwhelming scarce resources (with virus hoaxes)

Most virus experts consider virus hoaxes just another strain of the common computer virus.

How virus hoaxes can shut down your external telecommunications lines
(if your ISP doesn't shut you down first)

One or two virus hoaxes messages may be a mere annoyance. Several hundred or several thousand excess virus hoaxes messages flowing in or out of your company could effectively shut down your office’s Internet access.

Keeping up with virus hoaxes outbreaks

Just like everything virus-related, it's ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL for you to keep current on the latest virus hoaxes news.

More virus hoax online resources:

Computer Associates Virus Information Center and Virus Encyclopedia -- www3.ca.com/virus/
Network Associates Virus Information Library -- vil.nai.com/vil/
Security Administrator -- www.secadministrator.com
Symantec Security Response -- www.symantec.com/avcenter/
TruSecure -- www.trusecure.com

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