Let's say that you receive a forwarded e-mail message that purports to tell you about a new virus, or some new pricing policy by the FCC, or even Kurt Vonnegut's commencement speech. Before you forward the message to 50 of your closest friends, think for a moment. Why is it that you haven't seen this news anywhere else, someplace reputable? Because it's most likely bogus. Don't waste anyone's time or bandwidth with it.

Instead, take a moment to look at the Istudio's Online Netiquette page.

If a virus warning still seems convincing, you can consult the Computer Incident Advisory Capability's Hoaxbusters site. (The CIAC is part of the Department of Energy. Ironically, I have a friend who worked for DOE who was an notorious vector for hoaxes.) If you don't trust the government, throw a glance at Rob Rosenberger's Computer Virus Myths page (on hiatus while Rosenberger is serving overseas), or take a look at About.com's Urban Legends and Folklore page. Symantec has a page set aside in its Security Response site just to catalog hoaxes.