Then check for spyware
Spyware & Adware
What is Spyware?
Spyware is ANY SOFTWARE which uses a user's Internet connection in the without the user knowledge.Allthough Software Firms and Web pages that launch this "code" on your PC are required to ask your permission many dont! ANY SOFTWARE communicating across the Internet from Your PC without your knowledge is guilty of information theft and is rightfully termed: Spyware.
What is Adware?
Adware is basically any application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is running. This is built in to the coding of the Software that delivers th Adds to your desktop, These adds are either dislayed as pop up windows or through a Banner on the software front end. Many people believe that the revenue earned from this is justification for recouping development costs, which then dosnt need to be passed to the user.
Good Link
Adware, Spyware and other unwanted "malware" - and how to remove them
http://www.cexx.org/adware
Removal Tools (Freeware)
Ad Aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com
Spy Bot http://security.kolla.de/n
Removal Tools (Shareware & Trialware)
Goodbye Spy http://www.topshareware.co
Spy Cop http://spycop.com/products
**********Prevent Browser Hijacking**********
BHODemon (Freeware)
Think of BHODemon as a guardian for your Internet browser: it protects you from unknown Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), by letting you enable/disable them individually. This program is my choice for BHO detection and is highly recommended.
http://www.spywareinfo.com
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by: PeteLongPosted on 2003-10-31 at 02:58:19ID: 9656659
Using the Windows System Configuration Utility (startup)
denham/Msc onfig.htm
E\Microsof t\Windows\ CurrentVer sion\Run
om/default .aspx?scid =kb;en- us; 310560 om/default .aspx?scid =kb;en- us; 281965 om/default .aspx?scid =kb;en- us; 281995
ages/autor un.html
pCPL.shtml
Windows 98, ME, and XP have MSCONFIG
*****************
Windows 2000 doesn’t have msconfig but you can use it, if you...
Download the two files here
http://www2.whidbey.com/dj
************
If annoying programs are popping up every time you boot into windows XP or log in, you can disable them with the System Configuration Utility.
Press START > RUN > type MSCONFIG to launch
When the application starts you will need to click the startup tab.
This lists all the applications that will start when you boot up or log in, you can simply untick the ones you don’t want to start and reboot (if a problem occurs you can simply re-tick it)
Most programs launch from the following registry Key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWAR
Once you are sure you no longer need the application you can launch REGEDIT and go and delete a programs value from this key (DON’T DELETE THE ENTIRE KEY!!!)
Any software that is listed as "Common Startup" is being launched from the startup folder (click START >PROGRAMS >STARTUP to view them. You can delete the Icons from here <by right clicking it and selecting delete> to stop it launching.) This only deletes the shortcut; it does not uninstall the application.
*****Links*****
XP http://support.microsoft.c
98 http://support.microsoft.c
ME http://support.microsoft.c
*****Start up Software*****
Autorun Software Downloads
http://www.bykeyword.com/p
Startup Control Panel
http://www.mlin.net/Startu