Search Term 'Free' Leads to More Online Viruses

A McAfee study finds that searching for free stuff online—particularly entertainment-related content—dramatically increases your odds of landing on a site littered with malware. By inserting the search term "free" when looking for music ringtones, the study reports a 300% increases in the chances of hitting a malicious site.

"The sites often look very professional and attempt to lure the user with the idea of a 'trial period' or even some nominal fee," the report says. "Once the user agrees, they have to authorize their computer to access and interact with computers that are involved in a wide range of schemes." One recommendation, not surprisingly, is to avoid use of the search term "free." Read the full article at CNET.
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