A COUPLE of weeks ago we ran a piece debunking warnings about
computer viruses supposedly spread by text-only e-mail messages
(22 March). Several readers have written in with solid
technological arguments to back up our belief that these
warnings are hoaxes and that computer viruses cannot be spread
in this way, although this may change in the future (see
Letters, p 55). Others, however, have pointed out that such
warnings are effectively viruses themselves, given the way they
replicate and spread through computer networks. So it is with a
certain amount of trepidation that we publish this warning,
which Ben Jeapes received by e-mail and sent on to us: "There is
a computer virus that is being sent across the Internet. If you
receive an e-mail message with the subject line `Free Money', DO
NOT read the message. DELETE it immediately, UNPLUG your
computer, then BURN IT to ... To continue reading this article,
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