E-mail viruses: The message is the virus!

by Rich Pasco

Would you deliberately forward a virus to all your friends? "Of course not," you say? Well, many people do that when they unthinkingly follow the instructions in an important-sounding e-mail message that says "forward to everyone you know."

One definition of a virus is "That which tricks its host into making more copies of itself." This can be as true of an e-mail message as it can of a computer program or a biological virus. I call an e-mail message with this effect an e-mail virus. Fortunately, an e-mail virus is easy to spot:

Says "forward to everyone you know" or "this is really true" or similar.
Has an urgent-sounding warning, a heart-wrenching plea, an offer of something for nothing, or a heart-warming story.
Has technical-sounding language with details glossed over.
Gives no reference to contact the original author for more information (phone number, e-mail address, etc.)
Seeks credibility by naming known institutions, publications, etc., but lacks details (contact persons, publication dates, web pages).
Uses terms like "yesterday" or "this week" in an un-dated message.
Promises you good luck if you forward it, or threatens bad luck if you don't.

If you receive such a message and cannot verify its truth, please do not aid in its propagation, even if you trust the person who sent it to you. Remember, he too may have been duped. If you forward it because "it just might be true" you waste a lot of people's time and possibly embarrass yourself by demonstrating your gullibility.

Nevertheless, you should always practice "safe computing." Remember, to "open" any executable file (whether received as an e-mail attachment or otherwise) means to surrender complete control of your computer system to its distant (and unknown) author. Even if you know and trust the person who apparently sent it to you, please consider that his system may have been infected by a virus.

Relevant web sites

Urban legend collections

About: Urban Legends and Folklore by David Emery
Snopes: Urban Legends Reference Pages by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson
TruthOrFiction.com by Branches Communications, Inc.
Rumor Mill: Hoaxes, Rumors & Misinformation by Steven Dahlman
HoaxBusters by U.S. Dept of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability
Hoax Slayer by Brett Christensen

Essays

"Pass It On . . . It's a Hoax!" by Sheryl Huggins
"Computer Virus Hoaxes" by David Emery
"The Hoax That Cried Virus" by Mary Landesman
"Internet Virus Antidote" by Sonia Lyris and Richard Brodie
"How to Spot an Email Hoax" by David Emery
"How to Spot an Urban Legend" by David Emery
"Current Netlore: Internet Hoaxes, Email Rumors and Urban Legends " by David Emery
"Varieties of Netlore: Chain Email" by David Emery
"Hey! Forward THIS!" by David Emery
"The Case of the Pointless Petition" by David Emery
"Do e-mail petitions work?" by Katherine Hobson
The AFU and Urban Legends Archive
Don't Spread that Hoax!
Truth About Computer Virus Myths & Hoaxes
Sign This Email, Stop an Abortion - Netlore Archive
Virus Hoaxes: Not Just Harmless Pranks from Network Associates Virus Library
Symantec Anti-virus Research Center (SARC) — Virus Hoaxes
Email fact of life
No fooling: the 10 worst Internet hoaxes from CNN.com
Don't forward that e-mail! (Animated cartoon; requires Flash Player.)
Where to Complain About Frauds & Scams on the Internet

Specific e-mail viruses

Cell Phones and Telemarketers: About.com
809 Area Code Scam: About.com and ScamBusters
'It Takes Guts to Say Jesus' Virus About.com

Index to all of Rich Pasco's articles on e-mail and viruses

Rich Pasco's home page