Update2000 is not a virus; it is a hoax or an e-mail message designed to persuade recipients not to download the update for the year 2000 (the file Y2KFIX.EXE)from the company America Online, by making them believe that it is a virus.

• In order to gain the user’s trust, this hoax tricks the user into believing that the sender of the original message is Richard Brunner, a member of AOL’s technical team. It also provides other data that seems to be true, such as the size of the virus and the download time for the patch.

Its aim is to cause alarm and get users to forward the message.

In order to avoid problems, disregard its advice and do not forward it to anyone.

Update2000 arrives in an apparently normal e-mail message, but which can be identified:

• By its subject, which is often: Do Not DOWNLOAD !!.
• By its message, which always refers to a virus that will be sent in an America Online update.

For more information, consult the section Means of transmission.