You are typing an e-mail to a family member when a pop-up window suddenly appears.  The window claims you have been infected with spyware/malware/virus and suggest you run a scan, giving you two options: OK or Cancel.  What happens 99% of the time?  You click OK.  Why is this?

Ever since 1989, when Windows 1.0 was released, Microsoft has trained Windows users to click OK when a message window appears.  Unfortunately, internet scam artists and virus creators understand this tendency; taking advantage of it.  Of course, the above "you are infected" message is a scam that comes in many flavors: Antivirus 2009, AndromedaAV, Doctor Spyware, and others.  Once you click OK, many different types of spyware, malware, and viruses are installed.  You suddenly get pop-ups even though you are not surfing the web.  You see taskbar notifications (those little yellow balloons at the bottom-right of your Windows Desktop) and fake scan results.  You may even see warnings when you go to Google or Yahoo.

While anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware programs will clean most infections, they can't prevent users from clicking OK.   If you are getting pop-ups and notifications to purchase Antivirus 2009 or other bogus software, disconnect from the internet and run your anti-virus program immediately (do NOT click OK).  If you are still getting these messages, or you clicked OK, please contact ProMission Projects for further assistance.

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