Hijackers: not just for porn sites anymore

Got your own spyware horror story?

We all have our bad days with our computers, but learning how to deal with browser hijackers was my worst experience. I didn't even know what was happening.

The myth is that hijacks always happen at pornography sites. This is absolutely not true: they can happen anywhere. I had been searching for some new software for my PC I couldn't afford at the time, so I looked for some free versions instead. I finally found the program I wanted via Google. While downloading the application, I pressed an ActiveX Control by accident and downloaded a hijacker. This made the PC continuously unstable. Every time I tried accessing my home page, I was redirected to other sites, including those for porn, poker games, dating, and sports. I tried browser cleaners and other antispyware programs, with no luck. Eventually, I had to reformat the hard drive.

The lesson I learned: be knowledgeable about the sites you visit and never download anything unless you totally trust the source.

-Kitiara
Sydney, Australia

Reply from the Download.com editors:

You're correct that a lot of people mistakenly believe browser hijacks only happen at porn sites. In actuality, they can happen anywhere on the Internet, though we'd say it's always best to be on your toes when looking for "free" software. The last sentence of your story should be a mantra for anyone who wants to keep spyware off her or his computer.

Unfortunately, even extremely conscientious and well-protected users are not totally immune to the Web's worst nightmares, especially since you can contract malware simply by visiting the wrong site. However, a new browser plug-in called SiteAdvisor can help you make informed decisions as to whether a particular site is safe, or trouble waiting to happen. The developer of the plug-in tests and ranks sites on a few factors, including whether they spam visitors or offer downloads bundled with spyware and adware. Handily enough, it also shows you rankings directly from your search engine, so you can prevent potential hijacks before they happen. SiteAdvisor may never get around to ranking every site on the Web, but it's still an invaluable tool for both hard-core Net denizens and casual Web visitors alike.