On 19 May 2002, at 16:05, David Wood wrote: > What is(are) Spyware(s)? "Spyware" is a term that has been coined to refer to software which -- usually without your permission or knowledge -- collects information from your machine (such as what sites you visit, or what search strings you type) and sends it off across the Internet to the creators or distributors of the program. Of course, a program that can do this can as easily do things like capture and send passwords, credit card numbers, and so on, although so far most of the well-known cases have merely been collecting marketing info or system configuration data. Good "personal firewall" software will detect these programs attempting to make an outbound connection, and ask you if they are authorized to do so. That's how most of them get found -- some program you never heard of and don't remember installing suddenly wants to talk to "spams-r-us.com".... David Gillett Do you want to signoff PCSOFT or just change to Digest mode - visit our web site: http://freepctech.com/pcsoft.shtml