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If you’re reading this, it’s possible that you have Internet_HIV in your device.

But do not worry. Internet_HIV is just a harmless Internet cookie that the Romanian Association against AIDS planted in the devices of 170.000 people to raise awareness about its national HIV testing campaign.

Why an Internet cookie? Because HIV and an Internet cookie have a lot more in common than you might think.

The first similarity between the Internet_HIV cookie and the real HIV virus is that they are really hard to track – the only way to find out that you got them is a special test.

The second reason The Romanian Association against AIDS created Internet_HIV is that there are no specific signs you got a cookie downloaded in your device. No notification, no nothing. It’s the same with HIV: getting HIV, there are no specific symptoms. The symptoms in the first stage of the infection are identical to the ones of a mild flu, so it can be easily confused with a cold. And after this stage, the virus can be asymptomatic for as long as 10 years.

Same with Internet cookies – they do not affect your user experience in any way. The only way to see your cookies is to look for them. Same with HIV.

So go on internethiv.ro to find out if you have the Internet_HIV cookie in your device and then make sure to get tested for the real thing at your medical clinic.

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