Switch off all the tellytubby eyecandy XP throws at you, and go back to classic mode - your machine will be more responsive, and won't look like it was another botched Mrs "Bob" Gates project...

Sure, this cunning plan will fail if enough people do it to make it obvious, but as a starter for ten...

Paris icon used because she probably likes tellytubbies.

Two things: First, please explain how simply switching schemes in XP will protect you from anything except perhaps mild nausea. Second, I believe it's "Teletubby", not "Tellytubby", unless of course this particular horror wears different nomenclature in the UK.

Rita not hot not nubile and two thirds my age possibly. You need to get your eyes checked mate.

Gotta say who ever came up with that one, has some skill. Throw away the keys!

*Off topic rant*; why is it that most people can not stay on topics with these comments. I mean seriously don't the admins read this stuff. So then do not complain when an article does not have an IT angle, cause when it does your comments are off topic.

I expect to most computer geeks she look like a goddess :-)

I mean, some of us dont think Paris Hilton is THAT attractive.( wouldnt say no though)

...the "toxic girlfriend" joke?

(I suspect there are at least five of these in the queue waiting for the guy in Guadalajara to vet them for online-fitness)

Jeez man, watcha saying? That's my mom!

Do you think changing the theme is going to stop n00b users from downloading the malware anyway? Think about it, if you're intelligent enough to work out that the window is appearing in a theme that isn't the current Windows theme, then you'd be intelligent enough to know it's a fake window ANYWAY (without having to change the theme). Therefore, that "advice" is really useless.

It's simple, common sense will defeat this.

Hey, I resent that. I'm hardly a newbie, yet the first time a popup along these lines appeared on my archaic Win98 machine running Netscape 7.2, I had to stop and think before figuring out what was going on.

It was the use of what I suppose was an XP theme that was the clue, but even me with my marvelous brain had to pay attention. Cut the real doofuses and noobs some slack, okay?

[IIRC, it was one of those "your computer is infested with malware, quick, download our malware so you have a complete set to tell your grandchildren about" scams a few years ago.]

How about we don't connect to the internets :)

At first I wondered how on earth they made it do that, since myspace filters out any attempts to place javascript on their pages. Then I realized that it's just a simple image with some CSS to place it. How do they catch you clicking near it? The image file itself is bigger than the depicted window with a transparent filling.

Seriously though, something like that would never fool me. Seeing my mouse pointer change before I even got to the button would alert me. Even if I didn't use Ubuntu now.

Myspace is the root of all evil and shall be the downfall of mankind.

Bebo is much better.

In the same way that having only one testicle nailed to the table is much better than both?

Meethinks it is more akin to the choice between having your testicles smashed with a brick or with a cricket bat.

PH 'cause my nuts ache.

Personally I think Facebook is better, but in a real cynical "the man" is watching us, I think they are all evil in some way or another.

Good point. We're through anorak territory there and heading into the 1970's vintage blue nylon snorkel parka a size too large with orange lining enclave.

Situation like this... watching someone else profile, and chances to get infected.. are the main reason I don't connect to internet...

So if you want to be protected like me... don't connect to internet.. like me at this moment... you newbies...