(Fwd) A virus alert (fwd)

Headers removed to protect the guilty... :)

>You may want to forward this on to your consituencies.  I 
>am unsure whether to add a :-) to that recommendation.....
>
>from rec.humor.funny...
>=> 
>=> VIRUS WARNING!!! VIRUS WARNING!!! VIRUS WARNING!!! VIRUS WARNING!!!
>=> 
>=> Dear Internet user,
>=> 
>=> It seems that the destructive minds who like to invent computer viruses have
>=> struck again.  A new virus, popularly known as INTERNET EXPLORER 4.0, has
>=> been propogating the Net for several weeks now.  MILLIONS of computers have
>=> been infected by this insidious virus (mostly PCs, and a few Macintoshes as
>=> well.)  This virus is one of the MOST DANGEROUS yet unleashed on the
computing
>=> public!
>=> 
>=> INTERNET EXPLORER 4.0 is known to have the following horrible effects on
>=> infected computers:
>=> 
>=>   *	It WASTES an incredible amount of HARD DISK SPACE, space which could
>=> 	otherwise be used for productive applications
>=> 
>=>   *	It causes the infected computer's performance to be DRASTICALLY 
>=> 	REDUCED--Pentium machines which are stricken are known to slow down
>=> 	to the speed of a 486
>=> 
>=>   *	It surreptitiously MODIFIES the underlying operating system, causing
>=> 	the CORE FUNCTIONALITY of the instrument to change RADICALLY
>=> 
>=>   *	It, through the use of Trojan-like ALTERATIONS to the core Java
>=> 	APIs, may cause Java applets to MALFUNCTION.  These effects are so
>=> 	SEVERE that the designers of Java, Sun Microsystems, are taking LEGAL
>=> 	ACTION against the inventors of this terrible virus
>=> 
>=>   *	It, once installed, is VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE for the average user to
>=> 	remove from the system
>=> 
>=>   *	It is known to create SECURITY HOLES, which can allow unknown users
>=> 	to DELETE or DESTROY files on your hard drive
>=> 
>=>   *	It is known to cause many popular and reliable Internet browsers, 
>=> 	such as NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR and NETSCAPE COMMUNICATOR, to not function 
>=> 	correctly
>=> 
>=>   *	It is even known to infect NEWLY PURCHASED computers coming from
>=> 	repuatable manufacturers like COMPAQ and DELL.  These companies have
>=> 	so far been POWERLESS to prevent this virus from being installed on
>=> 	the computers they sell. 
>=> 
>=>   *	It is known to be UNDETECTABLE by most virus-checking software
>=> 	packages
>=> 
>=> 
>=> The good news is that the JUSTICE DEPARTMENT is currently investigating the
>=> rogue hackers who CONCOCTED this destructive virus.  They have been
traced to 
>=> a Seattle suburb, and may face fines of ONE MILLION DOLLARS PER DAY for the
>=> pernicious manner in which this virus is being distributed.  The bad news is
>=> that millions of computers have ALREADY BEEN INFECTED.  The inventors of
this
>=> virus even have the gall to gleefully BOAST about this terrible fact on
their 
>=> web site!
>=> 
>=> Here's what YOU can do:  
>=> 
>=> 1)	If you see a website with the "Internet Explorer" logo, do **NOT**
>=> 	click on the logo.  This can cause this virus to be DOWNLOADED and
>=> 	INSTALLED on your system!
>=> 
>=> 2)	If your computer is ALREADY INFECTED, and it's a Windows-based PC,
>=> 	call the technical support hotline at Microsoft (the company which
>=> 	wrote Windows), and ask them for instructions on how to DISABLE and
>=> 	REMOVE this virus.  They should have instructions to do so.
>=> 
>=> I apologize for the URGENT TONE of this message, but only if we WORK
TOGETHER
>=> can the spread of the dreaded INTERNET EXPLORER 4.0 virus be slowed or
>=> stopped.
>
>
>