[url]download.cnet.com/downloads/1,10150,0-10000-103-0-1-7,00.html?tag=srch&qt=Ad%2Daware&cn=Internet&ca=10000[/url]

This is a link to Ad-aware, a pretty cool spyware removal program if anyone's interested. If you use it, install Ad-aware first, followed by RefUpdate, which downloads the most current signature file for Ad-aware.

I found something like 71 instances of spyware cookies and programs (mostly cookies) on my system and it removed them all. Good stuff and it's free.

Hey thanks!  I just downloaded it and found like 33 here and got rid of the crap.  Real simple to download and use and its free.

An easier link to the Adaware program is:

www.lavasoftusa.com

Also, I use the ZoneAlarm firewall, and it is excellent.

After you put in ZoneAlarm, and have it configured, go to

www.grc.com

and test your firewall with Probe My Ports and Test My Shields.  These will give you a report on the vulnerability of your computer to hacking.  

GRC.com is Gibson Research, and they have some good, informative reading there, as well.  They also recommend ZoneAlarm.

Wow... 30 some components here on my machine at work.  0 on the machine at home!  YEAH.  I keep my chit clean!

How does this work with XP? When you run it do you just delete everything it comes up with? I've just gone from windows 98 to XP and still havent gotten the bugs out of it yet. I dont want to make it "worse" if you know what I mean.

...and again NOTHING for Mac computers...