At 03:37 AM 6/30/01 -0500, you wrote:

>Delores never used the word "spyware" but somehow most assumed
>that's what she meant. I was thinking she meant spy programs such as
>"back orifice", but the responses mentioning firewalls would have
>addressed that and other "phone-home" spy programs.
>
>If someone has physical access to your computer, they can install spy
>programs such as PC Spy. Some of these types of programs can phone-home,
>but they can also be used off-line only, so firewalls and AdAware are of
>no use. These programs usually aren't revealed by ctrl-alt-delete but
>there are ways to discover them.

>These suggestions assume the computer uses Windows 9x.
>
>1. Start-Programs... anything there you didn't install?
>2. Start-Programs-StartUp...   "    "     "    "
>3. Start-Settings-Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs... anything look
>    suspicious? (Beware; TweakUI can remove stuff from Add/Remove Programs).
>4. Start-Run, type "msconfig", <enter>-StartUp tab... look here for spies
>    with names like KeyRunner, etc.
>
>Larry Hooper

Larry,

Your suggestions on how to detect unknown programs, but there is one
problem with it.  If you start msconfig and see an unusual file name, it
may belong to a legitimate program.  One good thing about using msconfig is
that you can disable that item and see what happens.

Whenever, I install something new (or upgrade an existing program) I check
msconfig before and after the installation and record the addition.  It's
an extra step but I find out what was added to startup.  In this way, I can
spot the suspect file.

Jorge Ocasio

              The NOSPIN Group is now offering Free PC Tech
                     support at our newest website:
                          http://freepctech.com