So what should you do if you receive a warning about some horrible virus? Generally, if these demand to be sent to everyone you know, it's a hoax. If you are unsure, then check out following site:

Symantic Antivirus Research Center - http://www.sarc.com

Go to search page and enter a few words from message claiming to warn you about a horrible virus. Behold, you will now read about hoax. In fact, here's datasheet on virus mentioned at start of this article:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data /wtc.survivor.hoax.html

In any event, hoax or not, it's a good idea to just file email or delete it. Don't send it on to all of your friends. Don't do anything dramatic. These things only gain power when people give them power.

In other words, maintain your reason and don't give in to an emotional response which simply floods email inboxes with junk.

His characterization of his new job is no doubt due to horrible security breaches built into Microsoft's products and he relishes challenge of plugging all those many gaping holes.

For my part, I wish him well and hope he succeeds on a grand scale since security of Microsoft products is critical if they gain even smallest adoption of .Net Passport system that requires registration of all MSN products users as it is built in to their latest iteration of Windows, Explorer, Outlook Express and required of each of MSN web services such as hotmail, bCentral small business services and each of their web portals.

I predict, without hesitation, that individual privacy and enterprise network security will be blockbuster issues of computing and web in coming year. Super Snooper is, like it or not, going to be snooping and sniffing you, your grandmother, your kids, your neighbor, your friends, your enemies and all our biometrics to compare all that information to profiles of known terrorists. I know, I know, you're very harmless and sweet and innocent and honest and true.

It's those bad guys I'm worried about, so you don't mind if we profile you, right? We won't attach any of that information to your .Net Passport, your medical records or your tax files.

Really! We promise! Super Snooper is only after terrorists. Nobody is interested in all that information we have on you. Betcha it's totally secure too (on Microsoft IIS server soft- ware that is completely patched and impervious to hackers or criminals or even that cybergeek who lives next door.) I know that because Microsoft has a new Security Czar who starts his irresistable job on April Fools Day!