Search words like ‘screen saver, ‘free’ and lyrics’ "are used to lure unsuspecting consumers to their Web sites," company officials say, adding that hackers and cybercriminals "are often able to persuade searchers to download files carrying malicious software that can cause consumers to expose their personal and financial data."

McAfee's (News - Alert) report, "The Web's Most Dangerous Search Terms," describes how cybercriminals seek the largest pool of possible victims with popular search terms about current events, gadgets and celebrities. During the recession, according to the report, there has been a growing number of malicious search results targeting people who want to save money or "earn extra income working at home."

Calling cybercrooks "smart," Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee Product Development & Avert Labs, said hackers create related Web sites "laden with adware and malware whenever a particular topic increases in popularity." One can only guess, of course, at the total tonnage of Barack Obama-themed sites. Unsuspecting consumers "are then tricked into downloading malicious software that leads them to blindly hand over their personal assets to cybercriminals," Green explains.