PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- As the holiday season approaches, shoppers are once again wracking their brains to think of the perfect gift for hard-to-buy-for family members and friends.

According to a study by Google, fake anti-virus software that infects PCs with malicious codes are a growing threat.

In the latest chapter of the infamous Conficker worm saga, security experts say its creators appear to be modifying the virus so that it can turn computers into breeding grounds for fake anti-virus software.

By ANICK JESDANUN NEW YORK - Security vendor CA Inc. is so confident in its products, it is offering up to $1,500 for computer repairs should users of its anti-virus software get infected.

By WENDY BROWN Consumer: Security critical Our computer died a slow, painful death. And it died so soon after we bought it that I can hardly call it "beloved." At first it started shutting down for no particular reason.