In today's highly-technological, Internet-dependent workplace, what is often termed "connectivity" can sometimes leave us disjointed. Such was the case for many unsuspecting e-mail users recently.

The urgent message I received from a friend warned that a pernicious computer virus, entitled "sulfnbk.exe," was traversing cyberspace. As is bound to happen when there is a threat of that nature, hundreds, if not thousands, of e-mails circulated describing the same danger. This particular e-mail traveled so far that it even reached me, a yet-to-be admitted associate at a boutique real-estate firm. The virus "lies dormant for 14 days and then kills your hard drive," it counseled. Kill my hard drive? That is serious stuff. And judging by the addresses appearing on that e-mail, individuals with the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Proskauer Rose, Brooklyn Law School, Citicorp, I.B.M., Miramax, and other governmental bodies, organizations, businesses, as well as many of the judges and administrators with the New York State Unified Court System all shared my concern. In light of all the other viruses that have been released into the computer cosmos, (Melissa, Anna Kournikova, and Goner, just to name a few), my initial reaction was "here we go again."

And luckily, we were all instructed on how to rid our machines of the potential plague. The e-mail directed us to, "follow the instructions and see if you have the virus," and if found to "send a similar e-mail to everyone in [our] address book[s]." It then proceeded to detail the steps that would enable the world to locate the virus and exterminate it with a stroke of my delete key. It was that simple.

There was just one problem. There was no virus. Not on my computer, and not on anyone else's - at least not the one mentioned in the circulating e-mail. Apparently, the sulfnbk.exe "virus" is actually "a real system file that belongs in Windows" according to individuals who had done their homework. The warning was a hoax encouraging people to delete a necessary file. Aside from keeping me from deleting this file, and making myself the butt of jokes and ridicule, one sage e-mail user advised: "you should never pay attention to these hoaxes and certainly never pass them on unless you independently verify them yourself from a reputable web site such as Symantec [and] Trend Micro." After all, who wants to be the punch line at the next office party?

But thank goodness for e-mail. It makes communications faster, keeps us connected, often entertains us, and occasionally warns us of danger, even if it is only from ourselves. Feel free to send e-mails. But, in the interest of staying connected, try not to unplug me.