Character assassin

Got your own spyware horror story?

I can tell you, I've had my share of computer horror stories. The first major fright happened three or four years ago. I was browsing the Web and suddenly came across an antivirus site. I wasn't interested, however, since I already owned a small fleet of virus protection software, so I left it alone. When I started my computer the next morning to check my e-mail, a new icon had appeared on my quick-launch bar. PSGuard, an antivirus program I didn't add to my arsenal, began to scan my computer; halfway through the search it notified me of a few spyware programs on my computer.

I tried getting rid of it, but nothing helped. A month later, I finally found Kaspersky, which solved the problem. PSGuard never returned, but a year later I came across another site through Google. I had made the mistake of clicking a bad link and accidentally landed on a pornography site, which I exited immediately. I scanned my computer and nothing showed up. I turned off my computer and went for a walk. (I needed a breather from last year's memories.)

When I returned to continue working on my school project, I rebooted my computer. It began to boot, and then crashed. I tried again. Same result. Again. Again. Again. The only thing I could do was reformat. I got an extension for the project, but my teacher subtracted marks anyway. That day's lesson is this: watch your surfing, it can earn you a bad grade.

-Tom
Ottawa, Canada

Reply from the Download.com editors:

Pow! That's got to hurt. Unless you clicked a link on the site without realizing it, you were slammed by a drive-by download of a rogue antivirus program, a faux security guardian that tricks you into downloading malware (usually adware and Trojan spyware) and taunts you until you buy the program, which often does nothing.

With most contracted malware, commencing with your antivirus regimen is the best ointment. Recovery programs can help regain data, but what about dispelling the doubt that the licentious user has only him or herself to blame?

Jason, a student, was branded a smut-lover by his classmates and worse, had his computer seized for evidence by the school's IT team. Brian was called in to fix the porn-racked computer at his friend's insurance company.

How are you expected to clear your name with your computer under siege? As with all trials, documentation is the best defense. Since all malware behaves differently, some software solutions may just work. Try taking screenshots with a capture app like SnagIt, or screencasts with CamStudio. HijackThis documents your running processes, creating a log that you or a more experienced forums moderator can analyze. If all else fails, there's also the photography route. Even keeping a simple journal of the problem could help track the path of infection, and quite possibly exonerate you at your office, home, or school.