Virus Hoaxes
So, your friend has sent you a note warning that he or she has a virus. He or she may suggest that you tell as many people as possible about this latest threat.
Now, you are no doubt a conscientious member of the Internet community, but before you click "Forward" and load up as many addresses as you can in the To: field, pause for a moment. Could this be a hoax? Frequently, the answer is "yes."
Hoaxes are not only a waste of time but they can also encourage people to do destructive things to their machines like removing important files. Next time you get a virus warning from a friend or colleague, take a moment to review this information from Sophos:
You might also be interested in Sophos' list of top hoaxes below.