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You should probably remove that and run a spyware check as it sounds like a shady download.

To change your home page in IE go to Tools > Internet Options.

What would spyware do to my computer and how would I do a check on it?

Thanks Craven.

That was easy. A2K is back on my home page where it belongs :-D

www.webshots.com is what I downloaded. I have no idea what spyware is or what it does though and I have no idea how to check for it. I am learning slowly but surely about this computer contraption.

Ah, if that's what it was it probably prompted you and you okayed it. Nemind then.

That's what I thought and I'm glad because I like the damn thing :-D

Thanks again for the help Craven (smooch) ;-)

Spyware is software that a website/manufacturer/organisation/game etc... etc... installs on your computer without your permission.
It basically does what it says on the tin : It spys on you and your movements.

It illicitly sends information such as your web history, the websites you've been to today, the setup and organisation of resources in your computer, the contents of the root directory of your hard drives, Windows version, computer specifications, name, address, phone number (if you have put it into the PC) and a whole host of other stuff to the servers of the people who own the spyware. They do with it what they will.

It's iniquitous, intrusive and should be bloody well illegal.

You can get spyware removal tools from people like www.lavasoft.de. Their one is called AdAware and is very effective.

Thanks Helio. I was always curious about that. If I downloaded Adware and I already had spyware in my computer, would it get rid of it?

Yes Montana, it will.

Thanks CJ ;-)

Not so fast. Adware misses many many many different kinds of spyware. A false sense of security is dangerous so I must note that.

Spybot catches some things that Adaware doesn't. These programs make mistakes, don't expect miracles with them.

Ok, I'll keep that in mind.

HijackThis 1.96

If your homepage has been hijacked, this tool may help. It detects and removes hijacking software, It does not target specific programs/URLs, just the methods used by hijackers to force you onto their sites. It is handy companion to Spybot Search and Destroy.

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/

Thanks acacia and welcome to A2K :-D