The perps who trick the clueless masses into buying worthless software via ads and popups exclaiming "WARNING! Virus detected!" and crap like that don't deserve to be sued. They deserve to be taken out into the woods with a shovel to dig their own graves and then be shot in the back of the heads execution style.

Remember CoolWWWSearch and what a B*&*H that was to get rid of for weeks (months even? I don't recall) even for people who knew what they were doing? That particular one I would have been happy to "take care" of the principals myself and not lose a minutes sleep over it.

I hate this kind of software and the tricks it pulls to get installed on a pc. But I do computer repair for a living, and part of that is virus removal. We make about $60 a day off of this scamware alone. I've gotten a routine down to clean it out just using a Bart disc. Takes about 2 hours. I feel sorry for the guy above doing all that work. I coulda saved you some money!

Due to this specific issue, we have had 6 incidents over the last few months at the company I work for.

Given it takes about 6 hours to diagnose, set up a temporary computer, then reload the original machine and validate it, then put it back into use for the user, it cost us ~$300 per incident.

That's $1800 in estimated lost productivity. Other factors including deadlines and collateral damage aren't included in that number. That's just for us.

Thank God the FTC put an end to this particular scheme. I'd like to see some of that restitution.

Travis