US Orders $163 Million Fine in "Scareware" Case

Companies tried to trick computer users into thinking their computers were infected, then sold them a "fix."

A US federal court has ordered a $163 million fine against the operators of a "scareware" scheme which tricked computer users into thinking they were infected, and then sold them a "fix," officials said Tuesday.

The Federal Trade Commission said the court imposed the fine on Kristy Ross and two companies, Innovative Marketing and ByteHosting Internet Services, and permanently barred them from selling computer security software.