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Over the years since we have started writing newsletters, there has been a much heightened alert about viruses and spyware. Whilst these are the most likely problems that may affect your computer as they cause havoc and destruction to your files. However there is a deadlier form of these out there, they are the virus warnings and hoaxes, usually sent via email forwarded from reputable people or organisations requesting they are forwarded to "everyone you know". Similar hoaxes also exist for competitions you may have won or other offers that seem to be good to be true.

Unfortunately, there are many warnings and hoaxes that circulate on the internet on a regular basis. They usually arrive forwarded in an email from someone you know and you consequently end up trusting this information and it can difficult to assess whether the information is correct or a hoax.

Organisations such as AusCERT (Australian Computer Emergency Response Team) is the national leading advisor in the Asia/Pacific region provide information freely available to anyone who subscribes, and the best source of valid information on such threats. However, they do not suggest forwarding of their emails and they provide valid references to prove the statements in their bulletins.

In addition, companies who produce internet security products such as Symantec and McAfee provide advise and updates via their respective websites.

Both companies also provide lists of legitimate threats and risks (including hoaxes). If you receive what appears to be a virus warning, hoax or not, or a promotion that sounds too good to be true, visit the following websites:

Symantec: http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/security_response/threatexplorer/index.jsp
McAfee: http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp

For several years, CyberGuru has been advising those who forward such warnings and hoaxes onto us to confirm via these websites whether these hoaxes are true. We can verify that the many virus notices we have received have all been hoaxes. When we receive these, we provide a link to our website listing the current threats, tools and advisories, sourced from the Symantec website, which is available at our Security and Virus Warnings page at http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_securityandviruswarnings.htm. We also provide the forwarded information on where to find out more about the hoax itself and should your receive any similar messages where to find out about them as well.

Typically, CyberGuru does not send virus warnings as these websites provide more up-to-date information we have access to. However, if we do discover that an actual virus requires such a warning, we will make every effort to provide this information to you on the Security and Virus Warnings page. We may send you an email to advise you to check the website, confirming we are the source of the information and provide valid references on where further information can be found and invite you to contact us if you require further assistance.

Our advice is that if you receive a virus warning, disregard and delete it straight away without opening it or any attachments. Do not forward it as this continues it. Even if the sender forwards it on in good faith, it is likely to be a hoax. They are constantly sent purposely trying to frightening or misleading users (often with instructions to perform actions on your computer including deleting system files) and then requesting you send it on and the loop goes on. If you are unsure about what to do please call us.