Spyware Overview Spyware refers to any software on your computer that collects information about you and sends it out to the Internet.

Spyware

• PC Magazine ratings of anti-spyware programs.

Start-up Programs - There may be many programs which are constantly running "in the background" on your computer.   Some of these programs are not necessary and do nothing but use up your computer's resources, and cause problems (crashing)  Have you ever looked at the task manager and wondered what all those programs were?  You can see the task manager in Windows 2000/NT/XP by clicking Ctrl-Alt-Delete  --> task manager --> Processes.     In Windows 98: Start menu -> Programs -> Accessories -> Systems Tools -> System information

• Wintask Process Library - seems very extensive
• another list of tasks - this one also includes user comments about the tasks,
• Here is a description of all those task programs .  Included is advice on how to disable any wasteful programs. 
• Another start-up management web page.  Includes a long list of programs which may run in the background.
• Mike Lin's Start-up Control Panel provides an improved interface for controlling the programs that get loaded in your computer.

If you are still not sure what a program does, or how to disable it... just search at search.yahoo.com or google for  the name of the program.

Note for my Alumni: Your referrals are always appreciated