I completely agree with this Arstechnica posting,
I’ve never sent out a virus email in my life, yet I’ve recieved dozens of email messages from well-meaning antivirus systems to tell me I have, simply because the systems take the forged From header as gospel. Indeed, for my own Inbox, the combination of these automated replies and bounces from defunct email addresses (also generated by the virus) has been much more of a nuisance than the virus itself!
Of course, the worst part of all of this is that these “secondary” messages are being sent out for all the right reasons. But that doesn’t change the fact that these automated antivirus emails are only making the problem of email congestion worse.
I’m actually receiving more of these automated responses than I am actual instances of the virus.
I also absolutely despise it when people set auto replies to their personal e-mail accounts. Awhile ago I was copied on an e-mail that numerous people replied to and then replied to replies. The problem was that one of the recipients had gone on an extended leave of absence and left an automated message to that effect — which I think I received at least 50 times.