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Day #1 ... computer invented
Day #2 ...first computer virus hacked
Day #2 + 45 minutes ...first hoax email warning of non-existent virus
There really are some live ones out there, some old and some new. Fortunately there are things you can do to protect yourself.
So, then, .... what do i do to keep from gettin' hosed?
Step #1: Visit the altar of the holy trilogy.... back-up, back-up, back-up!
Step #2: See step #1
Step #3: You already have Norton Disk Doctor, TechTool Pro, and then the URL for MacAffee.com*, right? Use 'em.
* Sorry, MacAffee is for PC'ers only...not Mac's
** The good news: relatively few virus' affect Mac's.
What about that eMail warning me not to open the "EraseMyHardDrive.exe" file?
Hoax warnings are typically scare alerts started by malicious people - and passed on by innocent users who think they are helping the community by spreading the warning.
Fortunately, there are a few places, staffed by very competent folks, who try to keep track of the actual virus' and also the hoax things floating around. Check 'em out!
These are the folks who i regularly visit:
F-Secure, formerly known as Data Fellows
CIAC (Computer Incident Advisory Capability of the US Dept of Energy)
If you should get an email alert, asking you to send it on to warn others, that should be your first clue that it's likely a hoax. There are horror stories about business networks getting clogged and shut down from the overload traffic trying to "warn" everyone of one of these virus hoaxes. Take a moment to check it out first, before sending it on.
Then there's the Urban Legends, those famous stories that just won't go away.
The $500.00 cookie recipe, that skindiver picked up and dropped from the fire fighter 'copter bucket, drugs smuggled in murdered girls corpse, the Victoria's Secret chain letter...... and on and on and on. Check 'em out first at:
[thanks to Tom Wangerin for the URL's. ]
How about those emails? Y'know, ads from the people i don't know, with stuff i didn't want.
You're probably talking about SPAM, those unsolicited "Get Rich Quick" and XXXhothampsters.com emails. These, while irritating as hell, aren't virus, or virus hoax things. They're just unwanted, not necessarily harmful. For better and more complete information, check out Randy Cassingham's site.
