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WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER, AND BEWARE! Gullibility Virus Spreading
over the Internet!
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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.
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.
Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability
Symantec Anti Virus Research Center
McAfee Associates Virus Hoax List
Dr. Solomons Hoax Page
The Urban Legends Web Site
Urban Legends Reference Pages
Datafellows Hoax Warnings
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.