If, after searching the on-line hoax databases, you believe the warning is legitimate, please do not send the warning to others. Instead, contact your department's computing support staff. Over the last several years, many people with good intentions have been sending messages alerting friends and colleagues about purported computer viruses that cause mayhem merely by opening e-mail messages that have specific subject lines. They should be ignored, and you should not forward the warning message to others. When in doubt, always check with your department's computing support staff before taking any action.
False warnings cause unnecessary worry and confusion.
It is highly unlikely that a virus can be constructed to behave in the manner ascribed in such warnings. Generally, merely opening an e-mail message can not cause a virus to activate. We have received news that warnings about a new virus hoax are being circulated on campus. Enclosed is an updated advisory on viruses hoaxes. Please try to educate your users to verify warnings with an authoritative source before resending them.