Fake anti-virus warnings like the one below really piss me off. This one came up in Internet Explorer while using Google to do some research.
![Antivirus 2009 Antivirus 2009](http://www.thelaughingdm.com/wordpress/images/RogueAVOffers/Antivirus2009.jpg)
This dialog popped up from a perfectly legitimate link in Google results. Regardless of whether the dialog is closed with the OK button, the Cancel button, or the window close button, the user is taken to a malicious web site. The web site behind the link redirects to winfix2008live.com/_freescan.php.
Pop-up blocking is activated in Internet Explorer.
![Internet Explorer Popup Blocking Set Internet Explorer Popup Blocking Set](http://www.thelaughingdm.com/wordpress/images/RogueAVOffers/PopupBlockingSet.jpg)
Firefox is no less immune in this respect.
![Antivirus 2009 in Firefox Antivirus 2009 in Firefox](http://www.thelaughingdm.com/wordpress/images/RogueAVOffers/Antivirus2009-FF.jpg)
Apple Safari on a MacBook Pro has the same issue.
![Antivirus 2009 - Safari Antivirus 2009 - Safari](http://www.thelaughingdm.com/wordpress/images/RogueAVOffers/Antivirus2009-Safari.jpg)
I’m a fairly knowledgable computer use with up-to-date security software installed on my systems, so it was a bit of a surprise when browsers started popping up warnings about being “struck by the virus.” It is easy to see how “average” computer users can be misled by these sorts of popups