@pohsibkcir... I think you are incorrect in stating that it's not Microsofts' fault. In fact, if you go back all the way to Windows 3.1, a pattern emerges that completely incriminates MS.
They never wrote secure code for their OS. Being closed source, they allowed themselves to ignore thinking about intrusion possibilities while designing their products. Also, almost all "MS" features are from other acquired companies, they found it was not profitable to go back and rewrite the code from the acquired company.
They got lazy and when an AV company identified a problem, they published the technical data of the malware. Microsoft scooped it up and used it to create a "critical (after-the fact) update". It's obvious that virtually all Microsoft Critical updates are released after AV providers have revised their .dat files.
You are always taking a chance when using Windows. It's understandable that you would claim "It's time we stopped treating these things like it's Microsoft's fault."
But, really, you don't have any other experience to believe differently. To me, it's all Windows' fault as evidenced by an equivalent OS that is "open source" and doesn't suffer from these maladies. It's silly to keep using Windows when Linux Mint provides the same operation, does not rely on AV, and doesn't get taken over. Many operations are browser driven and there is no difference in browser operation between Linux and Windows.
The TDL-4 botnet infected 4.5 million computers in the first 3 months of 2011. To me, the real problem is that Windows, gleefully opened the door and said come on in and do whatever you want to my MBR and Hard drive and I won't let the user or AV know about it.
The problem isn't the malware, it's Windows ALLOWING something to so thoroughly infect it so easily. It did it 4.5 million times for TDL-4. OK, so you scan and possibly remove it. How does that help if you are infected again the next day. Are you going to perpetually run the scanner all the time?
Linux is secure without AV and doesn't have these issues. My family has been using it for over 8 years, without AV and without infections.