Bakasoftware, a Russian operation, makes $5 million a year pushing its Antivirus XP program on Windows users. At least, that's the estimate based on internal files obtained by another Russian hacker. John Markoff's report explains scareware for NYT readers. Best part: When Bakasoftware's malware program launches inside a PC, it checks the Windows registry. If the PC's default language is Russian, the program shuts down, rather than draw the attention of Russian law enforcement. Obligatory Times-speak: "Bakasoftware, which may be based in Moscow according to Internet domain name records, did not respond to telephone and e-mail requests for comment."

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