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The technology programme Click has demonstrated just how at risk PCs are of being taken over by hackers.
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Almost 22,000 computers made up Click's network of hijacked machines, which has now been disabled.
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The BBC has now warned users that their PCs are infected, and advised them on how to make their systems more secure.
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Click managed to acquire its own low-value botnet - the name given to a network of hijacked computers - after visiting chatrooms on the internet.
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The programme did not access any personal information on the infected PCs. The purpose was to demonstrate botnets' collective power when in the hands of criminals.
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Click ordered its PCs to send out spam to two specific test e-mail addresses set up by the programme. Within hours, the inboxes started to fill up with thousands of junk messages.
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Click has now destroyed its botnet, and no longer controls any hijacked machines.
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However, the owners of unprotected PCs have been made aware that they are vulnerable to future attacks.
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In addition, Click advised them on what steps to take to make their systems more secure. Most computers have protection systems that need to be switched on and kept updated to protect them against the evolving threat from hackers.
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Machines can be compromised simply by visiting an infected web page or opening an e-mail containing a virus as an attachment.
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Users are normally unaware that their PCs are being controlled remotely by cyber criminals because there are almost no symptoms.
