• SpyAxe: the latest rogue 1/18/06
• System restore to the rescue 1/11/06
• How porn and P2P pummeled a PC 1/4/06
• Yet another reason to get DSL 12/21/05
• These "free" icons come at a price 12/14/05
• Unsolicited phone calls via unsolicited software 12/7/05
• Always read the fine print 11/30/05
• How a virtual PC can save your hide 11/23/05
• Destruction of personal property 11/16/05
• Watch your bank 11/9/05

Download.com users are no strangers to the frightening world of spyware. Each week, we'll share a new reader tale of spyware woe, so check back frequently for each terrifying episode.

How spyware can cost you your job

Near the end of 2003, I was told to use a coworker's computer when he was on vacation because it was faster. I had to log on to the Internet to access my work e-mail from his computer. I mistyped the URL and got redirected to another site, where about 10 pop-ups were dumped on me. I closed them and thought nothing of it.

The next week, my boss said he needed to talk to me about the files I put on my coworker's computer. It seems that about 1,000 pornographic and gambling shortcuts had appeared on the coworker's desktop. I tried to explain that I didn't do it intentionally and that spyware was the culprit, but he said he'd never heard of anything like that happening, and I got written up.

I tried to keep my job but everyone treated me like I was a porn addict. I ended up quitting because I couldn't work with people so ignorant. It took me a long time to get over what happened.

--Molly
Illinois, U.S.A.

We feel your pain and can totally understand why you chose to resign from that particular company. Although virtually all Web surfers know at least something about spyware these days, this wasn't necessarily the case a few years back. Awareness about malicious software has increased dramatically since 2003, so we can only hope your former supervisor and coworkers realize you weren't at fault regarding the deluge of smut. We're sure similar incidents have happened to other people in the workplace, and as the general public learns more and more about spyware and what it can do, cases such as yours likely will decrease in number.

--Download.com editors

Got your own spyware horror story you'd like to share? Let us hear it.