Hoax Busters

These links are to sites that I have found to be useful for debunking Hoax's, Scams, SPAM and bogus Virus alerts...

The site below is usually the first site I go to to check out the veracity of e-mails I get from friends telling me to "Send this to everyone in my address book!" or  some such... we have all gotten them. When I first got on the Net I got burned a couple times, we are all programmed to believe that what we read in print is true or it wouldn't be in print, the "They wouldn't be allowed to say that if it wasn't true." fantasy echoing in our heads from some where... that has never been true by the way... Anyway I am doing my bit to offer some places I have found that I believe are doing a great service 

Welcome to TruthOrFiction.com
Your e-mail reality check!

If I want to back up what I found there or if I didn't find anything and I am still suspicious I go here:

Urban Legends and Folklore 

http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/

http://www.scambusters.com/search.html

It has tons of references for just about everything to do with how to survive on the Internet, even refers you to other sites that are providing the same service:

Hoax Busting Resources
Tired of getting recycled e-mail hoaxes and chain letters in your inbox? Here's a handy list of resources for identifying and coping with Internet misinformation.

The best place to check out Virus's Warnings is at the home page of your Anti Virus Software. Only once in 10 years have I ever gotten a valid warning for a Virus in an e-mail (That was from a SADM at Pac Bell)... if it's really bad it will be in the news before it gets sent out in an email... Like the "Melissa" virus...

I use Norton, so I go to Symantec's site:

But McAffe and and the others have a lot of credibility invested in staying on top of the Virus situation too.

http://www.cert.org/

Here is a real good site if some SPAMer has his claws into ya

This is very a very good article explaining why you should never use the "Forward" option in your e-mail program... 

A reader writes: "Your last sentence in a recent tip says, 'They have already created worms that have their own e-mailing capabilities built into them, and can reply to people not in an address book.' Recently, I received a message with the Navidad virus attached from someone I did not know. I wrote her and asked why I was on her mailing list. She replied that I was not and she did not know me and had not sent me a message."

He continued, "The explanation was that my e-mail address was included in the heading of a message she received from someone else we both know. When she opened the attached virus file, thinking it was harmless, Navidad sent a new message to everyone in the header, with a copy of itself attached. The next time she tried to start her computer, it was dead. People should not forward anything, but instead should always copy and paste to a new message. And they should address all messages that have multiple recipients to themselves, and BCC (blind carbon copy) everyone on the list."

This reader makes a valid point. Cut and paste the text instead of forwarding entire messages, because you could be forwarding a virus or worm. And for Navidad (and others that will surely follow) that grab e-mail addresses opportunistically, the fewer addresses they can find, the better, at least for innocent bystanders.

The e-mail in question... you haven't been on the net long if you haven't seen this diatribe... I agree with some of it but the rest is pure Limbaugh/Falwell

Subject: Fwd: FW: I may be a bad American

 I thought JD might enjoy this. I love Ted Nugent--he tells it like it is.

Upon hearing that California Senators B. Boxer and D. Feinstein denounced him for being a "gun owner" and a "Rock Star", this was Ted Nugent's response-- after telling the senators about his past contributions to children's charities and scholarship foundations which have totaled more than $13.7 million in the last 5 years!!

I'm a Bad American - this pretty much sums it up for me. I like big trucks, big boats, big houses, and naturally, pretty women. 

I believe the money I make belongs to me and my family, not some mid-level governmental Functionary with a bad comb-over who wants to give it away to crack addicts Squirting out babies.

I don't care about appearing compassionate.  

I think playing With toy guns doesn't make you a killer. I believe ignoring your kids and giving them Prozac might. 

I think I'm doing better than the homeless. 

I don't think being a minority makes you noble or victimized. I have the right not to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird or make me mad.

This is my life to live, and not necessarily up to others' expectations. 

I know what SEX is and there are not varying degrees of it. 

I don't celebrate Kwanzaa. But if you want to that's fine; I just don't feel like everyone else should have to.

I believe that if you are selling me a Dairy Queen shake, a pack of cigarettes, or hotel room you do it in English. As of matter of fact, if you are an American citizen you should speak English. 

My uncles and forefathers shouldn't have had to die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come disrespect ours, and make us bend to your will. Get over it.

I think the cops have every right to shoot your sorry butt if you're running from them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word 'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the previous line.

I don't use the excuse "it's for the children" as a shield for unpopular opinions or actions. 

I know how to count votes and I feel much safer letting a machine with no political affiliation do a recount when needed. 

I know what the definition of lying is, and it isn't based on the word "is"-ever.  

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you qualify for any special loan programs, gov't sponsored bank loans, etc., so you can open a hotel, 7-Eleven, trinket shop, or any thing else, while the indigenous peoples can't get past a high school education because they can't afford it.

I didn't take the initiative in inventing the Internet. 

I thought the Taco Bell dog was funny.

I want them to bring back safe and sane fireworks.  

I believe no one ever died because of something Ozzy Osbourne, Ice-T or Marilyn Manson sang, but that doesn't mean I want to listen to that crap from someone else's car when I'm stopped at a red light.  But I respect your right to. 

I think that being a student doesn't give you any more enlightenment than working at Blockbuster or Jack In The Box.  

I don't want to eat or drink anything with the words light, lite or fat-free on the package.

Our soldiers did not go to some foreign country and risk their lives in vain and defend our Constitution so that decades later you can tell me it's a living document ever changing and is open to interpretation. The guys who wrote it were light years ahead of anyone today, and they meant what they said – now leave the document alone, or there's going to be trouble.

I don't hate the rich. I help the poor.

I know wrestling is fake. 

I've never owned, or was a slave, and a large percentage of our forefathers weren't wealthy enough to own one either. Please stop blaming me because some prior white people were idiots – and remember, tons of white, Indian, Chinese, and other races have been enslaved too - it was wrong for every one of them. 

I believe a self-righteous liberal Democrat with a cause is more dangerous than a Hell's Angel with an attitude.

I want to know exactly which church is it where the "Reverend" Jesse Jackson preaches; and, what exactly is his job function.

I own a gun, you can own a gun, and any red blooded American should be allowed to own a gun, but if you use it in a crime, then you will serve the time. 

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it makes you mad, then invent the next operating system that's better and put your name on the building. Ask your buddy that invented the Internet to help you. 

I don't believe in hate crime legislation. Even suggesting it makes me mad. You're telling me that someone who is a minority, gay, disabled, other nationality, or otherwise different from the mainstream of this country has more value as a human being that I do as a white male.  If someone kills anyone, I'd say that it's a hate crime. We don't need more laws! 

Let's enforce the ones we already have. 

I think turkey bacon, turkey beef, turkey fake anything sucks. 

I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child - it takes a parent with the guts to stand up to the kid and spank his butt and say "NO!" when it's necessary to do so. 

I'll admit that the only movie that ever made me cry was Ole Yeller. 

I didn't realize Dr. Seuss was a genius until I had a kid. 

I will not be frowned upon or be looked down upon or be made to keep silent because I have these beliefs and opinions.  I thought this country allowed me that right. 

I will not conform or compromise just to keep from hurting somebody's feelings. 

I'm neither angry nor disenfranchised, no matter how desperately the mainstream media would like the world to believe otherwise. 

Yes, I guess by some people's definition, I may be a bad American. But that's tough.

bootyist-monk

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.  

For praying in a public hall    

Might offend someone with no faith at all.    

In silence alone we must meditate,    

God's name is prohibited by the state.  

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,    

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.    

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.    

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.  

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,    

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.    

It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,    

We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.  

We can get our condoms and birth controls,    

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.    

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,   

No word of God must reach this crowd.    

It's scary here I must confess,    

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.    

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:    

Should I be shot;    

My soul please take! Amen  

If you aren't ashamed to do this, please pass this on.  

Jesus said, " If you are ashamed of me," I will be ashamed of you before my Father."    
 

It is a shame that the author chose to take this "Quote" out of context... This is from Mark 31 - 38 Jesus was speaking to a crowd and to his disciples.  Predicting his death and resurrection. How it was determined that inflicting Christian teachings on people who have chosen to worship God in another manor is somehow glorifying Christianity is lost on me. I was taught that People have the absolute right to worship any way they choose to, but that forcing anyone by law to be indoctrinated by one religion over another is against the rights of mankind... If worshiping your religion in church and at home isn't enough for you then you have a problem. If your beliefs are so feeble and fragile that you feel you have to be immersed in your religion that is your problem. Why stop at schools, why not Supermarkets and Gas Stations... If your Religion is so fraught with inaccuracies that it can't withstand the light of knowledge then shame on you. If it is strong enough then why are you acting as though it is threatened by the beliefs of others... 

Not ashamed.  Passing this on .  .