Fw: Virenwarnung

[Dietmar Goldbeck]

On Wed, Jan 26, 2000 at 09:40:56PM +0100, Hartmut Trippler wrote:

> Betreff: Wtr: Virenwarnung
> 

Da haette ich auch noch eine zu. Bitte genau lesen!

Gullibility Virus Spreads!

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, email 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 Hoaxees 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
      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 email, 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
online 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.html 
      Dr. Solomons Hoax Page at
            http://www.drsolomons.com/vircen/hoax.html 
      The Urban Legends Web Site 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 

Lastly, as a public service, Internet users can help stamp out the
Gullibility Virus by sending copies of this message to anyone who
forwards them a hoax.

******************************************************************
This message is so important, we're sending it anonymously! Forward it
to all your friends right away! Don't think about it! This is not a
chain letter! This story is true! Don't check it out! This story is so
timely, there is no date on it! This story is so important, we're
using lots of exclamation points! For every message you forward to
some unsuspecting person, the Home for the Hopelessly Gullible will
donate ten cents to itself. (If you wonder how the Home will know you
are forwarding these messages all over creation, you're obviously
thinking too much.)

Dietmar   

-- 
 Alles Gute / best wishes  
     Dietmar Goldbeck                E-Mail: dietmar.goldbeck at acm.org
Reporter (to Mahatma Gandhi): Mr Gandhi, what do you think of Western
Civilization?  Gandhi: I think it would be a good idea.