If you go to a website and you get one of those pop-ups (that looks like it's from your Operating System) SAYING that you need to install some anti-virus software (which I know is a virus) does that mean the website itself is malicious? 

Can hackers use other peoples websites to attempt this kind of attack?  Or would it be more probable that the website itself is malicious?When you say that the website is malicious, what do you mean exactly? That it uses a browser exploit?It could be that, but what I meant is more generalized...  What I mean is, any website set up by a HACKER that looks as if it provides some basic or convenient service, but it is really there so the hacker can attempt to gather information about you or do whatever else hackers do, such as what you said...  Or, use the website to trick you into installing some anti-virus software that, not only you don't need, but is really as trojan horse..Well, unless the site uses a browser exploit against you, it can't download anything without you saying yes.I'll ask my question in another way..

I went to this website: 

www.christianforums.com

I don't recall when exactly it happened, but when I was on that website, I GOT what looked like an urgent MESSAGE from Windows Vista, saying that it has detected a virus and that I need to download some anti-virus software, and it gave me a "yes" or "no" option.  I usually open up task manager and kill it that way, because most of the time, it doesn't matter if you click on "yes" or "no", simply clicking on the Window will download the software/virus...

Based on this, does this mean that the website is likely built by a hacker, or could it be a legitimate website that a hacker is taking advantage of, somehow..

I read somewhere before... I don't remember where, but people can use public servers to host there web sites for free, and hackers can take advantage of those situations... I thought this might be the case...   If I knew more about website hosting/building I might be able to explain it better...Nothing happens when I view the page. I tried both firefox and IE just to make sure. IE complains of a syntax error, but I don't think that's relevant.

In any case, to answer your question, if you get that popup, there is no reason to trust the site that it's on; if there is any doubt, you can try to contact the administrator/webmaster and tell them about it, since it's possible that the server password was cracked/guessed, By somebody else who put said software on it.

It's also possible that your own PC is infected in some fashion; especially if you were using IE to view the page. I'd Double-check that before bothering the webmaster of the site, too.Try the link now,...    There was a typo in it...


I'll run some scans on my system....and thx for the advice Quote

Try the link now,...    There was a typo in it...

Try the link now,...    There was a typo in it...