June 3, 2006

This discussion will address toolbars, add-ons, and spyware.

For some strange reason, people seem to be prone to download and install add-on toolbars, and cutesy programs.  My philosophy is to keep to the basics and use only those programs you are absolutely sure don't contain any spyware.  Most people don't realize, that even programs from people like Google and Yahoo can contain hidden programs which keep track of things like your surfing habits and report the results to people, whose main objective is to use that information for marketing products.

Spyware is one of the biggest areas of problems with computers running slow and causing annoying pop up windows, etc.  My advice is DO NOT download programs which tie into Internet Explorer.  Surfing is not made any easier with these programs, even if they don't make life miserable after they are installed.  Windows and the programs associated with Internet Explorer work easier and faster if you don't install these toolbars and search helpers. 

Also stay away from programs which are related to weather reporting and day timer types of programs.  Programs which purport to speed up downloading files, are in reality, of no use whatsoever as far as speeding up downloads.  Again, these programs mostly have ulterior motives. 

Once you have spyware problems with your computer, you may not be able to get things back to normal without formatting the hard drive and restoring the computer with the original software.  If things get to this point, you better have all your data backed up, since it will all be gone, and all the programs you've added since you got the computer will have to be reloaded, configured, and updated again.  Not a pretty sight, and a couple of weeks of headaches getting things back to normal.  That's what keeps us computer people in business! 

Click here for a previous discussion on adware and spyware.

If you have any questions or comments, click