Hi malware fighters,
Inside browser security is a must. We see a massive increase in the amount of seeded malware in Google search results: http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/breaking-massive-amounts-of-malware.html
So scandoo.com as your search engine of pre-scanning with the DrWeb’s hyperlink av scanner extension for IE7, FF, Opera etc. is advisable whenever in doubt.
polonus
That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. It isn’t that long ago when there was a root out of sponsored links that led to malware site, so if they take a hit on that side they are obviously going to try to sneak in in other results.
You only have to do a search for free codec or screen savers to get a high possibility of getting a malware hit. Search for anything more iffy (sorry getting technical) like w-a-r-e-z / c-r-a-c-k / k-e-y-g-e-n and the risk goes much higher.
Just for your convenience, use Search Engine Plugin for Scandoo.
Also, WOT shows the reputation of sites in google search results. Personally, I prefer WOT and CustomizeGoogle combination. As DavidR says, depending on the words you serached, you see quite a lot of yellow and red sites. In any case, NoScript is a must-have extension/addon without doubt. Go NoScript Options, plugin tab, check everything except “Apply these restrictions to trusted sites, too”.
You only have to do a search for free codec or screen savers
If your looking for Free, safe screen savers, I can personally vouch for all the ones you find at:
http://mysharedfiles.no-ip.org/ScreenSavers 
I’m currently working on 2 new additions and hope to have them added shortly. ;D
Are some people still using screen saver? After I began to use LCD, I set my monitor simply turn off rather than using screen saver.
I too can’t see the purpose of a screen saver (though many obviously do), if you aren’t using the computer, aren’t there, etc. what does it matter what is on the screen-saver. My LCD is set to go to standby after just 5 minutes inactivity.
Hi bob3160 and users of screensavers,
Screensavers had a function in the days of Rip van Win(kle)95, when the monitors still had “afterburners”. Now they only eat cycles, and with the modern monitors and standby modes there is absolutely no need for them. But there are always people that want their loved ones or “pet animals” to turn on their screensaver. I have the Rotterdam Erasmus Bridge on my desktop, but no screensaver.
polonus
The backlights, or more precisely speaking, the inverters are most common Achilles tendon of LCD monitors. Screensavers don’t help the inverters to stress out: For this purpose, stand-by mode is desirable. Of course, this is also “desirable” for your electricity bills and ecology.
Well, I admit there is no fun in it, though. 
I wish there is a screensaver that puts the computer on standby since from the beginning, for instance. Sometimes the Windows energy settings don’t allow it.
See if this works for you Tech:
Click picture to enlarge
Sometimes…
Your settings will work for me. I just want some ‘fun’ ;D
That’s considered Off-Topic… ;D ;D
Which is currently closed so your not allowed any fun.
Life is funny ;D
If I can’t have fun, what I’m doing here? ???
Even CRT monitors can be set to turn off after a set amount of time.
??? Did you read whole the thread? The point was: Screen savers had practical meaning on CRT monitors by preventing them from afterburners. However, on LCD monitors, it even shortens the lifetime of the inverter. So, practically, it is recommendable to set it to stand by/turn off when you are not using the monitor.
Off course, this is a way too much off topic but as for the original topic, I think NoScript saves the day as usual.
Do you mean in laptops the screensaver shortens the monitor lifetime?
Yes. Laptops still tend to have cheaper LCD monitors, which are, generally speaking, not durable than expensive ones are although this is improved nowadays. This has not been recognized as a big problem for a few possible reasons: Conventionally screensavers are not used on laptops to squeeze out the limited battery supply. The most parts of laptops are not exchangeable and become obsolete before the lifespans of the inverters. Then again, as I wrote, due to the technical improvement, LCD monitors have longer lifespans they used to have. Some expensive LCD TV has 60,000 hours of lifespan. Cheaper computer monitors probably won’t last as much time, though.
Yes, I did. Did you read what I was replying to? ???
I mean, I did quote what I was replying to which was only part of your post … the part I quoted. :
My point is that screen savers are not needed for CRT monitors neither … unless, as Polonus stated, people want to showcase their loved ones, pets, etc.
I read it and re-read it now but I am puzzled since my post doesn’t tell I believed that CRT monitors couldn’t do it. In fact, I vaguely remember seeing the “Energy Save” option available when I was using CRT monitors.
If you read whole the thread you will notice that, beside myself, polonus pointed out that it was needed to prevent monitors from burn-in. That said, modern CRT monitors are much more resilient to the burn-in, so even if some people are still using it don’t need to worry about the burn-in as they had to.
Or just for fun. In any case, personally, I don’t recommend to keep budget LCD monitors turned on.
There are other uses for screensavers aswell … ;D
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/5973/screensaveroi4.th.png
So after 5 minutes of inactivity from the keyboard and mouse the screensaver turns on, PerfectDisk does it’s job(if necessary) and after 20 minutes the monitor goes into standby …
