2008/11/12 Susi Maxwell-Stewart <susioddball2k@...>:
> if we dont verify this on this kind of site who do we verify it with I had
> no reason to believe it was a hoax as it was sent to me by my sister but i
> will be aware of this next time

If you can't verify it then it's going to be a hoax. No warning comes
from CNN or Microsoft, they come from anti-virus companies.

A genuine warning look something like this.
===
Hi Guys

AVERT http://www.avertlabs.com have issued a High Priority alert. I've
seen 3 of these over the past few days. It appears in your email with
a plausible subject line and an attached zip file. The zip file
contains an executable which executes the virus and it's hard to get
rid of. The AV companies will probably catch up with removal
instructions over the coming couple of weeks, until then it's best to
take the machine out of service or get it cleaned.

You can read more about this issue on the AVERT web site
http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_141387.htm

Be careful not to execute files that arrive in your email.

===

Note the difference. It doesn't say "send to everyone in your in-box
even if you get it 25 times". It doesn't just say "Microsoft have said
.." it actually provides a proper citation from a reputable warning
organization, the warnings are not all hyped up and scary, there is a
full citation to where you can get technical details about the issue.

If in doubt don't pas sit on without checking with someone who does
know about these things, and don't make other peoples' email addresses
available for others to spam and scam. If you send out an email like
that from a registered organization you could well have broken the law
as well (data protection act), and leave yourself open to having to
pay compensation (under the same act).
--
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