The Better Business Bureau and GigaParts of Huntsville want to warn you about a very common computer virus that could take you to the bank.

With just a few key strokes, you can lose your identity, your computer, and your bank account. The virus is designed to look like anti-virus software. But be warned, it most certainly is not.

It's a rogue anti virus, and it's destroying one computer at a time.

"If you already have an anti virus installed on your computer and you get a pop up window that say your computer is infected, do you want to scan your computer for viruses, it seems like a very natural thing for your computer to ask you," said GigaParts Manager James Wood.

But in reality it's a trap.

"You'll see this very legitimate looking security warning and this very legitimate looking AV security suite software has popped up," said Wood.

It'll ask you for you for your credit card information, so you can keep your computer virus free, if you provide your digits you'll find yourself in trouble.

 "What we're learning is that this is a scam, so if you give your credit card number to let someone steal your identity," said BBB of Huntsville CEO Michele Mason.

But let's say you try to X out of the pop up to avoid being scammed. We'll that won't work either.

"If you didn't do that and thought you could just close it then you unleash the virus which could again download spy ware on your computer and let them steel your identity," said Mason.

And knock out your computer at the same time. It appears to be a lose lose situation. But there is a solution.

"There is a key combination alt F4, that will safely close your computer without risking an infection on your computer," said Wood.

One out of every two computers being fixed at GigaParts has been infected with some form of rogue anti virus. That's up dramatically from the 1 in 4 infected computers GigaParts was servicing at the beginning of last year.

If you see this virus, remember the magic keys Alt+F4. (Be warned, if you test it out right now, it'll close your browser.) You can also turn off your computer, but that may damage your hard drive.

Reporter - Mallory Hoff, mhoff@waaytv.com

Tip from the WAAY IT department.

Try Major Geek's Spyware Removal Guide for help with an infection.