Firstly let me just say that if a friend sends you a warning email, "this is not joke" "pass this on to all you friends" etc. etc. 99 out of a hundred are hoaxes,or a virus or worm themselves. (Check by using www.hoax-slayer.com)
Never ever send them on by using the forward button. It too late for you, whoever started the hoax already has your email address, just look at the size of the address list that has your name on it.
If you wish to send it (I wouldn't) copy the content and paste into a new email.
¿Well how can you protect yourselves from the nasties listed below?
  • Keep your Virus software updated and run a full scan regularly (1/52)
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  • Make sure your firewall is on (XP firewall is not good (leaks out) but better than nothing) 
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  • If you have XP Service pack 2, use windows defender (anti-spyware)
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  • Download and install into your browser Yahoo toolbar and or Google toolbar, Google pop up blocker is great. Yahoo includes Norton spyware scanner.
  • If you can't run IE8 Microsoft's new web browser, download Firefox from the Mozilla-firefox site and use that. It's far more secure than IE6!
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Beware of are sites offering free system error scans / free on-line spyware scans, they themselves usually infect you with just that. Listed below in my order of preference
are free Anti-Virus programs
www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
Or if you prefer AVG version 8 is available now here
free.avg.com/ww.download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition#
A great free firewall is available from this link www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
It's very similar to ZoneAlarm® but doesn't keep asking you to pay.
A very good and free anti-spyware program can be found here
www.superantispyware.com/download.html
A test of your firewall and vulnerable ports can be done by
www.hackerguardian.com/sas/user/free/new_user_registration.jsp
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