Thanks again, ninil! Much good info here.

How would a scareware attack be launched? Would it be 'moored' to a specific site like an old naval mine? Or would it be fired at me like a bullet by someone online in real time?

This morning when I booted up I found several windows stacked on my desktop, telling me that Ad Aware had been shut down suddenly and had generated an error report. The choices were to send the report or cancel. I have learned from experience that sending the report on each window will allow Ad Aware to open and to turn on normally after a minute or so. Once it turns on and activates, I get no more of these shut down messages while I am online.

Are these windows the result of someone firing viruses at my computer like bullets, or what?

Thanks.