To: NicktheGreek who wrote (1563 ) 3/29/1999 7:01:00 PM From: NicktheGreek Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 1755
Beware IMPORTANT: The Melissa Virus is circulating the Internet and affecting Microsoft Word 97 and Outlook users. Click here for details. E-mail & Hyperlink Safety Oftentimes, you'll find hyperlinks (blue, underlined words or phrases that link to AOL or Internet sites) in e-mail messages. Hyperlinks can be used as handy shortcuts to online areas. However, beware of hyperlinks in e-mails from strangers! If you received e-mail with any of the following subject lines, please read this entire article! * Beanie Babys * AOL Rewards * Surf The Internet 250% Faster!/Lightening Speeds For AOL Members/ Service Update * 6000 Free AOL Minutes * AOL Billing Problem * !AOL Update! Read Now! * AOL NetMail 2.0 Scammers often use hyperlinks to direct you to Web sites that look like official AOL or AOL.COM pages, but are not. The e-mails and Web pages may claim that you've won a prize or encourage you to sign up for testing of a new product or service. NEVER click on hyperlinks in e-mail sent to you by strangers. To participate, these scammers ask you to enter your AOL screen name and password. AOL staff will NEVER ask you for your password or credit card information. Some Web pages may automatically download computer viruses or Trojan Horse programs to your computer. These programs can damage your computer files or send your password back to the scammer. With your screen name and password, the scammer can sign on to your AOL account, read your e-mail, send e-mail in your name, and even violate AOL's Terms of Service, which may result in the termination of your account. To keep your computer and your AOL account safe, NEVER click on hyperlinks in e-mail sent to you by strangers. And NEVER enter your screen name and password into a Web page unless it is an official AOL Web page. Official AOL Web pages can be found at AOL.COM at aol.com . Tip: To play it safe, you can display the destination of the hyperlinks before you click on them. Simply position the cursor over the hyperlink. AOL will display its destination. Links to Web pages will show the Web address or URL. Links to areas on AOL will say "On AOL only." Mac users: hold down the Control key, click on the hyperlink, then choose View address. The hyperlink address will appear. Displaying the destination, before clicking on a hyperlink, is helpful if you're not sure if you should follow the link.