For a while, the Total Security Virus was the most seen virus, trojan, spyware, or anything else which was brought to Cookeville Computers.  Cookeville Computers saw so many of this virus, I was seeing the Total Security shield in my sleep (not really but you get the idea).  The Total Security is secretly installed on your computer when visiting a malicious website.  It usually begins when when the website is clicked and a message pops up stating your computer is infected by virus or spyware and needs to be scanned immediately or risk further infection.  Often time the number of virus and spyware which is showing as infecting your computer is highly exaggerated.  The problem is, the message you are seeing is simply a popup message being displayed by your browser.  This is not the virus and your computer is not yet infected.  Going to the task manager via control-alt-delete and closing your browser session will stop the infection before it occurs.  Most people however, at least in the Tennessee area, are clicking the popup message.  The popup message is usually an active-x or hidden .exe file which you have now just given access to your computer.  Once infected, you will now have the usual messages, errors, and lockups which are the main characteristics of this type of spyware and virus infection.  The only good thing about the Total Security virus is that Cookeville Computers - Cookeville Virus Removal can remove this VERY quickly.