[Update, virus alert]

[Patricia Dines <73652.1202@compuserve.com>]

Update - Have info from a reliable source that PenPal virus is a hoax.  You
might want to send this update to whomever you might have notified, to stop
it from further spreading. P. Dines

--- FORWARD ---
SOURCE: The Symantec Antivirus Research Center,
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/data/penpal.html):

Penpal Greetings is not a virus. It is a hoax. The "virus" does not exist.
There is currently no virus that has the characteristics ascribed to Penpal
Greetings. 

     The e-mail message describing the virus is similar to the original
Good Times virus e-mail hoax. It could even be described as a virus hoax
strain. 

     The Penpal Greetings hoax message includes the following "warning": 

          "This is a warning for all internet users - there is a dangerous
virus propagating across the internet through an e-mail message entitled
"PENPAL GREETINGS!" DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANY MESSAGE ENTITLED "PENPAL
GREETINGS!" 

          This message appears to be a friendly letter asking you if you
are interested in a penpal, but by the time you read this letter, it is too
late. The "trojan horse" virus will have already infected the boot sector
of your hard drive, destroying all of the data present. It is a
self-replicating virus, and once the message is read, it will AUTOMATICALLY
forward itself to anyone who's e-mail address is present in YOUR mailbox!"

     Please ignore any messages regarding this supposed "virus" and do not
pass on any messages regarding it. Passing on messages about this hoax
serves only to further propagate it. 
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PD NOTE: Also, you can check on reported viruses at 
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/vinfodb.html