Malware Attack !!!

Just had my laptop fixed and upgraded, and I've been busy copying my old files from my back-up discs. I've also been downloading several essential programs from the net--- plus some not so essential ones, but still quite useful. Apparently, one of those non essential programs have some malware attached to them, i can't pinpoint which one exactly. Out of the blue, several critical alert messages have been popping up, saying my computer was infected with a lot of spyware and viruses! upon clicking the balloon, several websites would open containing links to programs to be downloaded, all of which claim to be the solution to viruses and spyware that have suddenly infected my laptop! I ran a system scan with my anti virus and anti spyware software, yet mysteriously no viruses were found. No spyware either. There was something fishy. The fact that the same links to the same programs kept popping up further intensified my suspicions. Internet explorer wasn't working properly--- any web address i typed eventually led to sites advertising those programs, so I did a search with firefox. A lot of people have been encountering the same problem! My laptop was infected with malware! And not just one, but 4 different kinds! The fact that my updated and EXPENSIVE anti virus/ spyware software failed to detect them further pissed me off! For crying out loud, a FREE online scan detected those malware! They didn't really do harm to my system, but those endless pop-ups were really annoying! I've spent 4 hours trying to get my system back to the way it was! THe process was quite complicated... downloading several programs, manually deleting files... I can't help but get really pissed at the people behind the malware--- obviously the same people who make the software that were supposed to be the "solution". What devious, scheming assh*les! How low can a person get, to stoop down to such a level of trickery, just to sell a product?! misleading common people, making them think that their systems are infected, when in truth there are no viruses nor spyware at all, just an irritating malware designed to advertise their stupid products?! Good thing I had the common sense to ignore those products--- their stupid brand names were a giveaway thay something wasn't right. i hope they go bankrupt one of these days.

>:(

If there's one good thing I've learned out of this, it's that the world still has a lot of good people. A lot of computer experts were willing to help strangers with their computer woes--- for free. It's amazing how they would post detailed instructions in the discussion boards, and how incredibly patient they were, especially if the technical problems of the stangers asking for their help never seem to end. And yeah, I've discovered the wonders of Firefox also, which has now become my default internet browser. As one of those experts have said--- ditch internet explorer, which is vulnerable to a lot of threats. Use firefox instead.

... he also said stop using windows which is vulnerable to a lot of threats and use Linux instead--- but I'm not ready to make that leap yet. hehe.