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And MySpace has just contracted with a company to sell all their users’ data files.

Here’s the one on MS. Read also the link contained within.
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/an_in-depth_look_at_microsofts_spy_guide.php

What email program are you using?

Use ZoneAlarm as your firewall, and Malwarebytes for spyware, and you’re all set. Scan with MBAM immediately and get back to us as to what was found..

If you want to skip some updates, you can just run the ones that are security updates. Also, for example, I don’t have Office 2007, so I skip those updates. I have Malwarebytes, so I skip MS Malware Removal Tool.

Run CCleaner and TFC (Temp File Cleaner by OldTimer) about once a week to keep your XP lean and mean.

DO NOT remove any folders with cryptic names, except those “$NTUninstal”. Malwarebytes will remove any that are malware. Some legit Windows folders have numeric names.

Explorer.exe is what controls the desktop, folders and file management. It’s an essential part of the system. Otherwise you’d be looking at a black screen.

Please answer these with numbers:

1– Do you have SP3 and all of the Windows updates?
2–Have you scanned for malware with Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware, both updated?
3–Size of HD and how much is used?
4–How much RAM?
5–CPU speed (GHZ)?
6–What security programs do you have?
7–Please run Hijack This and post the log here. It tells me an awful lot about what’s going on.

I use Super Finder, which is very fast, but it searches one drive at a time. You’ll make up for it in the time saved. Copernic is limited, and terribly slow, and I don’t recommend letting Google into your computer.

You need a pdf reader, not necessarily Adobe. Use Foxit Reader and skip all of Adobe’s security problems and constant updates.

OOPs, thought you said Adobe Acrobat. I lied

It’s normal for System Idle Process to run from 90-98% of CPU.

After you’re done with the Clint’s list, I’d like to see the log from Hijack This. There’s still something going on there, and I want to look under the hood.

Thanks for posting all your specs Saves a lot of time.

Run Hijack This, please, and post the log here. Let’s see what’s going on under the hood.

I tried out a few, and I thought I was the Queen of Freeware, but many of these are new to me. thanks, Alan. And who is Wasbit?

No instructions. i don’t understand what to do with these.

You’re a hoot, Catz!
^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^ ^.. ^

The first one just sat there, the second seems to be just an amusing animation. What do they do?

Impressive. do you know if Wasbit is planning to keep it updated, as sites go under and some freeware becomes paidware?

Can you use Open Office instead?

Hotmail has been hacked recently too, with passwords stolen. I would stay 100 miles away from both of them. Hotmail is owned by Microsoft, BTW.

If Facebook is necessary to your life, open a gmail account that you use for nothing else, with a phony ID and no personal info. Use that one on Facebook, and if it gets spammy, toss it.