Scareware is really a type of spyware that infiltrates your computer and tries to scare you into buying something. Currently, the most popular tactic is to flash popups that seem almost impossible to get rid of on your screen. These popups warn that you need to purchase an antivirus program to get rid of an infection that you have or to update the antivirus program that you already have. The popups seem very authentic.

Purchasing the fake antivirus program is like putting your money right into the hands of the hackers. You either get nothing at all for your money or you get a download that does nothing. You will never hear from the fake company again. Your money will be gone and your computer will still be infected with the original spyware (scareware).

Right now, the most virulent of these Scareware programs leads you to purchase a program called Antivirus 2009, but there are more such scareware apps on the horizon. In fact, the infamous Configer worm has now become a scareware program with its creators trying to make money by selling rogue antivirus programs.

Experts say that scareware has proliferated quickly in the last year because hackers are making a lot of money as average computer users fall for this scheme easily.

Don't be one of them! Keep Windows updated and download an antivirus program from a reputable source.