# Infect Your PC Hundreds Click on Hoax Google Adsense Virus By thischick | Published 2007-05-18 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hundreds-click-on-hoax-google-adsense-virus References: [blog.wired](http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2007/05/hundreds_click_.html) Didier Stevens is a computer geek who likes to push the envelope. Six months ago he bought a [Google](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sensitive-ad-category) AdWord campaign and made an advertisement that said if your PC was virus-free you could get it infected by clicking the ad. The ad made it through Google AdSense policies and was displayed more than 230,000 times and received 409 click-throughs from folks who attempted to infect their computers through a Google ad. **Implications** - The actual ad that Didier Stevens created reads, "Is your PC virus-free? Get it infected here!" The people who clicked on the ad didn't actually receive a [computer virus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/big-sleep). Stevens was surprised that Google even let him put the ad on the Internet in the first place because of their security. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.4/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 54% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Pranks](https://www.trendhunter.com/pranks) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Viral Advertising:** Opportunity to create attention-grabbing ads that play on people's curiosity and challenge the norm. - **User-generated Pranks:** Potential to harness user creativity and humor to create engaging and sharable content. - **Online Security:** Growing need for enhanced measures to protect users from clicking on potentially harmful ads. ### Where This Applies - **Digital Marketing:** Adjusting marketing strategies to incorporate viral advertising campaigns that captivate audiences. - **Entertainment:** Exploring platforms where users can create and share pranks or humorous content. - **Cybersecurity:** Developing improved tools and techniques to safeguard users against online threats and potential viruses. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Harmful Ad-Removing Filters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sensitive-ad-category.md) - [Dystopian AI Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anthropic-super-bowl.md) - [Humorous Educational Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-investment-fraud.md) - [Anti-Computer-Cookies Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/klaviyo.md) - [Satirical Destination Marketing Videos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/switzerland-is-fake.md) - [Show-Inspired Browser Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/squid-game-1.md) - [Data-Driven Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/datadriven-marketing.md) - [Fly-Attracting Seltzer Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/truly-hard-seltzer-ad.md) - [Drug-Themed April Fool's Gags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/innocean-berlin.md)