So some file the other day told me I needed something like WinZip to unzip it. I was tired and didn't think about what I was doing as I cheerfully downloaded it, because I remember years and years ago I used to use it all the time.

But then I found it barely worked at all in the first place, would only work for a few days before I had to start paying for it, and worst of all, forced a supplementary install of something called "WinZip Registry Optimizer."

After installing 7-zip and getting rid of WinZip, I found this Registry Optimizer continually popping up and telling me my computer was loaded with viruses and errors and I just had to buy it. This obviously means the Optimizer is a virus unto itself, and I uninstalled it from the control panel.

But still, it bothers me. I googled it and found the WinZip site proudly offering downloads of this program, this spamware. What happened? Why has a once-mainstream software developer been reduced to this?