Code breaker

Got your own spyware horror story?

My friend bought a copy of Microsoft Word but lost the registration code required to install it. Not knowing what else to do, we decided to get a CD code from the Net. After all, my friend had paid for the program in the first place and wasn't about to buy a new copy.

We went to a software "cracks" site I thought was safe because I had used it before for similar reasons. Unfortunately, this time my friend wasn't so lucky. I assume the site exploited a hole in my friend's outdated version of Internet Explorer because the site downloaded so many types and iterations of spyware and adware, I can't even begin to list them.

Luckily for us, my friend had McAfee antivirus software and additional spyware protection. Malware scanning and cleaning mopped up much of the mess, but not everything. Even when I tried to go online to download Spybot - Search & Destroy and other spyware-removal programs, I was redirected to a page housed on my friend's hard drive that advertised a Web service.

Finally, I was able to use my portable version of Firefox off the USB drive and download the necessary tools to erase most of the malware...or so I thought. When we tried restoring the system, nothing happened at all; the programs were still there!

It's now been more than a month since the initial incident, and my friend's real-time scanner still catches a Trojan horse sometimes. I think I'm going to have to wipe his hard drive for the sake of his privacy. I know he has some information he wouldn't want published for everyone to see.

-John
Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S.A.

Reply from the Download.com editors:

It seems crazy that what began as a legitimate software purchase ended in weeks of frustration for you and your friend. We feel sympathy for your friend's situation, but your story provides some important lessons for software users.

While losing your CD registration code may sometimes be unavoidable, other security issues aren't. First, an information-protection system such as RoboForm will store important details like software codes and credit card numbers in one secure location. It's an easy way to eliminate the need to organize and protect that information yourself.

Second, don't use software cracks sites. Aside from being illegal (and possibly criminal) in most countries, these sites are notorious for harboring malware and other icky programs you don't want anywhere near your PC. If you legitimately bought a copy of Microsoft Word and honestly lost the CD key, Microsoft might be able to help. The company's information about replacement of CD or products keys on the Microsoft Web site is rather vague, but it's a start. If you can prove your purchase, you have at least a chance of getting a functional key for your product.

One last and somewhat obvious lesson is to be prepared. Keep on top of your browser's latest product releases and patches, take the time to research and install spyware detectors and cleaners, install aggressive adware blockers, and as difficult as it might seem, store your purchased software codes in a place where you won't lose them. Keeping Portable Firefox on an external drive is a nifty tip for avoiding installation problems on a corrupted machine.