I came across this article and felt it necessary to pass it along to you. There is great information on how we users are being taken advantage of. A must read: Because, the best weapon against this sort of trash is to be well equipped with knowledge.
Summary: Key Points
“Fake anti-virus software … a growing threat, according to a study by Google.” “Scammers trick people into downloading programs by convincing them that their PC is infected with a virus. Once installed, the software may steal data or force people to make a payment to register the fake product.” “Fake anti-viruses often are bundled with other malware, which remains on a victim's computer regardless of whether a payment is made.” "The hackers track trending news stories - such as the death of Michael Jackson," he said. "They then create websites stuffed with content, which in many cases can appear on the first page of search results." “Anyone clicking on the link, he said, would be confronted with a pop-up with a link to fake anti-virus software.” “…people should be familiar with their own anti-virus software and should "always be suspicious" if they were confronted with a pop-up telling them you need to download something extra or spend money to clean up a computer.” (BBC News, 2010)
Reference:
BBC News. (2010, April 28). Google warning on fake anti-virus software. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/10088949.stm
