Virus warnings: hoax or not?

Nick Verhaar
With the number of new viruses circulating on the internet today, it is getting harder to determine the difference between a hoax and the real thing.
Virus warnings can be quite effective in a way that they prewarn you of any new threats and allow you to prepare yourself, should you be faced with the virus.
However, a hoax virus warning will normally warn the user that if they have a certain file on their computer, for example calc.exe, then they are infected and should follow the detailed instructions to remove the virus.
Many users are unaware that this file is simply the file to open the Windows calculator. Deleting the file simply removes the calculator from their computer.
This is only an example. Depending on the file the hoax is warning against, removing it could be quite damaging to the operation of your computer.
Should you receive a warning email prompting you to send it on to as many people as possible, it is likely to be a hoax, and you should ignore it.
If you receive a warning that you believe may be a hoax, there are websites dedicated to exposing hoax viruses. Sites such as these provide a listing of all known hoaxes circulating across the internet, and you can search their database to see if the warning has been listed as a hoax or not.
If you had no luck with the hoax sites, you could also visit the website of a reputable antivirus company such as Symantec, McAfee, or Trend Micro and search their extensive virus databases.
If you would like to visit a site containing listings of hoaxes, simply point your browser to either http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp for the McAfee Virus Hoaxes website, or http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html for the Hoax section of the Symantec Antivirus Research Center.
If you would also like to sign up for a legitimate virus warning service, go to www.trendmicro.com/en/security/report/overview.htm and sign up for the Weekly Virus Report. This service will send you a weekly report of what to look out for and actions that should be taken should you run into a virus.