Spam, spyware, security hacks — they’re killing the Internet according to this “sky is falling” report from the LAT.

A small but growing number of frustrated computer owners are coming to the same conclusion. They’re giving up or cutting back their use of the Internet, especially at home, where no corporate tech support team will ride to their rescue.

Note the hedgy use of “growing number,” which is quickly undercut by the Times’ own reporting.

Seemayer is still in the minority. Overall Internet use continues to grow.

While I think writer Joseph Menn is hyperventilating a bit, I find few things about the Internet than AdWare.

The companies that produce these malicious programs are every bit as unethical and evil and spammers. I have no love for virus writers, and agree neither with their methods are their cause — assuming most virus writers are doing so out of a cause of being anti-corporate/anti-microsoft, which does seem to drive a lot of virus writing, that and kiddies who are just curious about what they can do with a script. I don’t like it, but I understand it. But spammers, adware makers are evil because they’re trying to make a buck in the most unethical ways possible. And that’s just plain wrong.

On the other hand, these users who are just throwing up their hands and quitting are terribly short-sighted. First, because the Internet is the future. Second, because it’s pretty much their own damn fault that they got their machines infected. Using the Internet is fairly simple: Don’t open attachments you’re not 100 percent sure of; don’t download software you shouldn’t be downloading — which means, know what you’re downloading, and if you are unsure for any reason, don’t download, no matter how badly you want it.

Why is that so hard?