OFF THE RECORD: The Internet offers plenty of wrong info

May 22, 2002 10:00 am

The Internet offers plenty of wrong info

Thanks to WhidbeyNet’s recently introduced spam filter, I’m receiving a lot less junk mail in my iMac. What a relief.

But one thing that still can’t be controlled is that human urge to hit the FORWARD key when a virus alert such as the following comes along:

“I got this message about a virus that can produce lot of dammage (sic) to your computer. If you follow the instructions which are very easy, you would be able to “clean” your computer. Apparently the virus spreads through the adresses book. I got it, then maybe I passed it to you, too, sorry. The name of the virus is jdbgmgr.exe and it is transmitted automatically through the Messanger and addresses book of the OUTLOOK. The virus is neither detected by Norton nor by McAfee. It remains in lethargy (“sleeping”) for 14 days and even more, before it destroys the whole system. It can be eliminated during this period.”

I’ve received this virus alert numerous times in the past few weeks. Granted, it’s generally sent to me by well-meaning folks who are trying to shield me from a bad bug.

But it’s bogus, real bogus. How do I know? Whenever I receive any type of questionable e-mail, I check out its validity at a dandy little Web site called www.snopes.com. Here’s what “snopes” had to say about this so-called computer virus:

“Like the SULFNBK.EXE hoax, this bogus virus warning (also known as the “Bear Virus”) attempts to lure gullible users into deleting perfectly innocuous, standard Windows files from their systems. In this case the target file is JDBGMGR.EXE, a Java Debug Manager program used by the Microsoft Java runtime engine. It is included as part of a standard Windows installation, is not a virus, and should not be deleted. JDBGMGR.EXE isn’t a necessary part of the Windows operating system and will not cause the system to fail if it is accidentally deleted, although some Java applets may not function properly without it. If you have already deleted the JDBGMGR.EXE file and want to recover it, you should use a file restoration utility or retrieve the file from the operating system installation discs that came with your PC.”

So when in doubt, check it out. Never forward something until you know it’s the real thing. This was recently reinforced when I attended a journalism seminar in Pasadena, Calif., titled “Smarter Surfing: A Workshop for Better Use of Your Web Time.” Facilitated by Sreenath Sreenivasan, a Columbia University New Media Professor and WABC-TV’s “Tech Guru” in New York City, the two-hour crash course in utilizing the Web was both entertaining and informational.

Here are some of Professor Sreenivasan’s suggested Web sites that may speed up your surfing time — and give you more real time. For further information, log onto his Web site, www.sree.net. And by the way, his search engine of choice? No surprise — Google.

ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIAS

FACT PORTALS

STATISTICAL & MATH HELP

OTHER USEFUL SITES

Sue Frause can be reached by e-mail at skfrause@whidbey.com.