Possible virus/spyware problem Options

[MARS]

For some unknown reason, all my passwords got wiped out today. It happened this morning: I wanted to access my email address - which worked just fine 10 minutes earlier - but I couldn't because it told me I had the wrong password. Tried my other email: Same problem. I called the customer service and they managed to give me access to the accounts so I could set up a new password and it's been working fine since then.

But here's where it became much worse: My cousin's been here for several hours during which I couldn't access the internet. After he left, I wanted to check my regular routine of internet forums, including this place. For some reason, I had to log in. Normally, I use the 'remember me' function but something must have deleted the cookies. No big deal, I thought, punched in my password...and it didn't work! This place, a friend's private forum and Fallout (which I tried for testing) all replied with the standard 'wrong password'-crap. What the hell happened? I tried a manual log-in on my MSN/ICQ accounts but they gave me the same problem. Something must have 'deleted' all my passwords today and I don't know what it was, where it came from - although I do have a theory - and most importantly, whether it's still there. I already ran two Ad-Aware Anti-Spy scans which pointed me to a number of cookies but I don't know whether the thing that's been causing this problem is still on my harddrive. After I labourously restored my passwords and changed them, I haven't encountered any further problems.

Any ideas/advice?

[The_Hunter]

my browser actualy deletes the cookies after a set time could be that i dunno i never heard of anything like that if the spyware proggies you use only pick up some of the generic tracking cookies then i dunno what else it could be.

[MARS]

Well, it does seem like an isolated event so far. I've run another virus scan which didn't find anything of importance and I changed ALL my remaining password. Guess it's wait and see for now. If it doesn't give me any more problems throughout the next few days, I'll give the all-clear. Can't do more than scan the HD and change the passwords, really. Oh well, I'm trying to get a new HD for Christmas anyway.

[Shiro]

Maybe something activated the delete cookies function? Do you use Firefox? Because I do, and whenever I close it, it deletes my cookies so I do not have to do it myself.

[MARS]

I do use FF but this thing didn't just delete cookies; it 'erased' my passwords. I had to use the retrieve-function to get a one-time password so I could access my accounts
and set a new, proper password. The incident did not occur again, though. Here's hoping that I managed to find the cause and that it will not happen once more.