> It is impossible to receive a virus, or have anything happen to your > computer by opening an e-mail message. > > Opening the attachments in the e-mail are another story. Attachements > that contain programs that run on your computer could possibly > transmit a virus or remove files from your computer. I can't think of > any time that I have ever recieved a program via e-mail, have you? So > I wouldn't worry too much about it. > > Any message that tells you to ``send it to everyone you know'' is > guaranteed to be a hoax. Would you ever be told something that was so > important that you had to telephone everyone you know? If an e-mail > message is trying to multiply itself chain-letter style, it's phony -- > just like a chain letter. > > So next time you get a foaming-at-the-mouth alert by e-mail, just > relax. Check it out if you must at CIAC's Hoax Page or simply delete > it. > > For you worriers, here are some spots where you can check out > "alarming" e-mail > messages. > > Computer Incident Advisory Capability > http://ciac.llnl.gov > > and the special Hoax Page > http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACHoaxes.html > > and the special Chain Letter Page > http://ciac.llnl.gov/ciac/CIACChainLetters.html > > Run by the Department of Energy, a pioneer online, these pages are > the first place I turn when I want to confirm that something > alarming isn't true. > > Computer Virus Myths Page > http://kumite.com/myths/ > > A place where you can learn about fake threats and even revel in > the amusement that hoaxes can provide. > > CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) Home Page > http://www.cert.org/ > > Computer Emergency Response Team is another excellent source > for finding out which threats are real. As Tony said, follow the simple rule--just don't open up any strange e-mail. Enough said.