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Technology E-mailing
#1: E-mail Hoaxes
This is
the first in a series of March "e-mailings" on technology
for AAUW public policy leaders and members. The series will cover
a variety of topics, and is intended to promote a better understanding
of the technologies and technological resources that AAUW public
policy leaders and members may use to promote public policy in
their states. Here's to being tech savvy and web wise!
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In
this Issue:
RESOURCES FOR IDENTIFYING E-MAIL HOAXES
1. Intro: The High Price of Hoaxes
2. General Tips
3. How to Spot a Hoax
4. Web Resources
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The
High Price of Hoaxes
As
you read this e-mail, there are hundreds of virus hoaxes, misleading
messages, and just plain e-junk circulating in cyberspace, making
the
rounds, coming soon to an inbox near you. We have all received
them--false security and health scares, fake legislative alerts,
urban legends retold with a twist, supposed free goods or easy
money just for forwarding a message to everyone you know. While
some of these messages are obviously hoaxes, some are less apparent,
and we have all been taken in by them at one time or another.
E-mail hoaxes and junk e-mail are becoming so prevalent that
many consider them as much of a threat to system resources as
viruses, and it is estimated that the cumulative time spent deleting
(or forwarding!) hoaxes
and spam, day after day, and across millions of computer users
adds up.
All that
said, it is a very good idea to be skeptical about information
when
it arrives in your inbox. This e-mail includes some tips and
resources on
how to identify and deal with hoaxes, scams, and time wasters
that you may receive.
General
Tips
Virtually any chain email you receive (i.e., any message forwarded
multiple times) is more likely to be false than true. Be skeptical.
Hoaxers usually try every means available to make their lies
believable --
e.g., mimicking a journalistic style, attributing the text to
a 'legitimate'
source. Be especially wary of health-related rumors. Most importantly,
never act on this type of rumor without first verifying its accuracy
with your doctor or other reliable source.
How
to Spot an Email Hoax
From <http://urbanlegends.about.com/index.htm>
Without researching the factual claims made in a forwarded email
there's no sure way to tell it if it's a hoax, but here you'll
find common signs to
watch for...
1. Note
whether the text was actually written by the person who sent
it to
you. If not, be skeptical.
2. Look for the telltale phrase, "Forward this to everyone
you know."
3. Look for statements like "This is not a hoax" or
"This is not an urban
legend." They usually mean the opposite of what they say.
4. Look for overly emphatic language, the frequent use of UPPERCASE
LETTERS and multiple exclamation points!!!!!!! If the
message seems geared more to persuade than to inform, be suspicious.
Hoaxers are out to push emotional buttons.
5. If the
message purports to give you extremely important information
that you've never heard of before or seen elsewhere in legitimate
venues, be suspicious.
6. Read carefully and think critically about what the message
says, looking for logical inconsistencies, violations of common
sense and obviously false claims.
7. Look for subtle or not-so-subtle jokes, indications that the
author is
pulling your leg.
8. Check for references to outside sources. Hoaxes will not typically
name any, nor link to Websites with corroborating information.
9. Check to see if the message has been debunked by Websites
that cover Internet hoaxes (see below).
10. IF YOU CAN'T VERIFY THE FACTS, DON'T FORWARD THE MESSAGE!
Internet
Resources:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/nethoaxes/index.htm
-
About.com net lore rumors, hoaxes and urban legends site, containing
a constantly updated, categorized index of Internet hoaxes, rumors,
chain letters, jokes and email urban legends
http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/virushoaxes/
-
About.com resources on computer virus hoaxes.
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBHoaxInfo.html#identify
-
A very informative page compiled by the U.S. Dept. of Energy's
Computer Incident Advisory Capability. It also contains listings
of the most frequently sighted hoaxes
and chain
letters.
http://www.snopes2.com/index.html
-
Urban legends reference pages, containing resource information
and listings of current hoaxes by category.
QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS E-MAIL?
Contact Michelle Artz
Senior Field Associate
Public Policy Department
AAUW
202/785-7786.
artzm@aauw.org
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