GEN: Viruses, Alarming News, and Wonderful Offers-Requests

[Peter Milbury <pmilbury@ERICIR.SYR.EDU>]

Dear LM_NET Colleagues,

   I put the following information and advice together as a result of a
current discussion on another online group to which I subscribe.
Generally, LM_NET has not had many of these situations, but they do seem
to make the rounds of the online discussion groups, so I thought I might
offer this now.
---------------

   Did you just read about some wonderful new online resource? Or have you
just received e-mail about some problem, scam or opportunity-- and you are
dying to share your information with LM_NET members?

   If so, STOP before you post.  Wouldn't it be better if you visited the
online resource and checked it out to see if it is as good as it is said
to be? Or, perhaps checked out a rumor, warning or offer with the original
source or an expert in the area that might yield valuable additional
information? Or possibly even invalidated the news, thus saving you
embarrassment from posting false information!

   If in doubt about some alarming virus, impending disaster or victim
that needs immediate help, or free offers that sound too good to be true,
please check with someone individually, before posting to LM_NET.

One interesting source of information is:
   http://kumite.com/myths/
   The Computer Virus Myths Home Pahe
   This page covers topics such as hoaxes, urban myths, hysterical
postings, false authority syndrome, etc. And best of all: "This site
contains no paid ads and sells no products."

   If it is an Internet service or site you want to recommend tell about,
please examine it closely before recommending it. If a Web address, be
sure you can connect, and that it is worthwhile recommending.

   If in doubt, please contact the LM_NET owners:

      PMILBURY@ERICIR.SYR.EDU  or   MIKE@ERICIR.SYR.EDU