Hoax emails

How often have you received an important looking email, even having links that seem to support what is being said, only to find it is a Hoax? or how about how often do you recieve emails that seem familure? or perhaps seem to incrdible to be true?  How do you check?

All this came about because I was clearing out my Hotmail Inbox, you know getting rid of the dross, I came across this message:

>Subject: its true
>Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 14:11:52 +1000
>
>
>
>
>Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:07:39 +1000
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
>X-OriginalArrivalTime: 11 Aug 2006 10:07:44.0278 (UTC)
>FILETIME=[FD050360:01C6BD2D]
>
> >Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:44:29 +1000
> >
> >Hey it is Andy and john the directors of MSN, sorry for the interruption
> >
> >but
> >msn is closing down. this is because too many inconsiderate people are
> >taking up all the name (eg making up lots of different accounts for just
> >one person), we only have 578 names left. If you would like to close your
> >account, DO NOT SEND THIS MESSAGE ON. If you would like to keep your
> >account, then SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. This is
> >no joke, we will be shutting down the servers. Send it on, thanks. WHO
>EVER
> >DOES NOT SEND THIS MESSEAGE, YOUR ACCOUNT
>WILL BE CLOSED AND YOU WILL COST
> >£10.00 A MONTH TO USE. SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. NOW
>YOU
> >KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD THIS or REPLAY. COPY THE WHOLE
> >EMAIL. GO BACK TO YOUR INBOX AND CLICK ON NEW. AND
> >PASTE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION hey
> >
> >everyone, i dont normally send this sort of stuff out but had a
> >look on the internet and its actually true . On the 1st of november , we
> >will have to pay for the use of our MSN and email accounts unless we send
> >this message to at least 18 contacts on your contact list. It's no joke
>if
> >you don't believe me then go to the site (
> >http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1189119.stm ) and see for yourself.
> >Anyways once you've sent this
>message to at least 18 contacts, your msn
> >dude will become blue. please copy and paste don't forward cos people
>won't
> >take notice of it.
> >

 The news article, if you read it quickly would appear to back up part of the tale. BUT if you read it closely and check the date: February 25th 2001 - this mail was? 2006.. yes over 5 years later.. and

Microsoft is reportedly planning to start charging surfers for the improved services of its MSN internet portal.

 Well it does say in the article about charging ..right? Well yes and no.. It says "Charging surfers for IMPROVED SERVICES". Improved services?  these are services that companies use, not your regular Hotmail. oh and:

pay about £60 a year for extra services.

  as I said Improved is the extra services... and:

Microsoft stresses that the site's core facilities including Hotmail will remain free.

Typically a hoax will bring in the comment of " email this to 20 of your contacts" or "email to all your Contacts"  a classic Lookout warning that the message is of the Hoax class:

If your not sure about an email check one of the following sites this typically will give you a good heads-up on the authenticity of the content:
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/
http://www.snopes.com/
not my Favorite but can be helpful.
http://www.hoaxbusters.org/

Where do I focus first? Security or easier ways to use the PC?
My preference is to work on security. Easy PC use is a very individual area, and there will be hints and tips. In this way you choose what works best for you.
Making Security simple - Now that is my challenge. It isn't just the software or programs that you use, it is how you use them, also when and how you update.  Not just where and what you browse, it is what else is allowed to be downloaded at the same time.
It is to be remembered that when we read or are told something we may hear the words, but our brains will interpret those words and convert it into a new form of information and present it to our conscious minds in a manor that we understand. Some times this is nothing like what the original information had intended.  This is not because any one is dumb or stupid, it is a fact of our education, experiences and how our minds operate. I won’t go into this, there is a whole field of study on this topic alone, all it means is, we all see things differently. Unfortunately Computers don’t.. so we need to find some common ground and get our relationship right with our PC's.
So lets see how we go at getting the PC to get on with its job, so we can do ours.
Cheers Glenn