If I did, the mail warned, the virus embedded in it would wipe out my hard drive and destroy my computer. The second was equally dire. Doing so would destroy my hard drive and render my computer useless. Both messages urged me to pass the notices on to everyone I know. Judging from the distribution list, dozens of people already had been warned.
Trouble is, they re both hoaxes.
Such warnings are the online equivalent of selling a freshman an elevator pass. Experienced computer users see these e-mails and just groan. Here s the deal. You cannot, ever, get a virus from reading e-mail. Plenty of viruses are passed with e-mail, though.