'...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...'
(F-Secure Hoax Alert).

'...Rumours (often distributed by well-meaning users) of viruses which supposedly infect the user when
he or she reads an e-mail message ('Good Times', 'Penpal Greetings', 'Irina', 'Deeyenda Maddick',etc.);
the truth is that simple text messages do not contain viruses...'
(Dr Solomon's Virus Center).

In case you've received an e-mail containing a virus warning please check carefully for a real virus or a
hoax. Typical phrases in the body of a virus hoax might be:

• Do not open! Doing so will result in the deletion of all of the files on your hard drive!
  

• Forward this message to all your friends!

• Forward this message to everybody in your address book!

Basically, email messages encouraging you to forward the information to all your email contacts, are considered typical for a hoax.

Common hoax warnings:

• Penpal Greetings
  

• Good Times
  

• Join The crew

Most popular hoaxes on the Internet: Check out the Top Five Hoaxes page.

Please do not forward your virus warnings without checking for a real virus or a hoax.