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1. Is this email for real? We are often forwarded emails about new viruses that will "destroy your hard drive" and urge that the email be "passed along to everybody in your address book".
These emails are commonly initiated by spammers to gather legitimate email addresses from people who don't know that forwarding email to multiple people should be addressed by using BCC (Blind Carbon Copy).
You can check the authenticity of an email, and view the 25 most common urban legends at www.snopes.com
Related story: The truth about cell phones and the do-not-call registry
2. Should I install the AVG update? AVG Anti-Virus has popped up a message this month which prompts people to update to the latest version. While installing the update, they recommend upgrading to their Internet Security Trial and Security Toolbar, which is a for-pay program after the trial. We suggest that you select the Free "Basic Protection", and uncheck the option to install the AVG Security Toolbar and setting AVG Secure Search as your default search provider.
3. A program popped up and said I have 38 virues... It's a scam - a trojan virus. If you didn't go looking for a program - don't install it.
There are thousands of new trojans lurking on infected web sites every day. A trojan is malicious software that says it does something good, when it actually does the opposite. For example the trojan might claim to be an anti-virus program, or hard drive utility - but it's really a program designed to lock-up your computer and ask for money.
Related story: What to do if you see a warning pop-up from an unfamiliar program
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