On 12-12-2005 11:13 AM, Noeline G'day Noeline,
Compliments of the SeasonPlease accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious...
Ad-Aware is not an anti-virus program. It detects spyware, which is not the same thing as a virus.
Viruses spread themselves around by replicating and attaching themselves to emails and legitimate programs. Some can cause a lot of damage to your computer, a few are just a nuisance and most are somewhere in between.
Spyware does not replicate itself. Some, like the very common "tracking cookies" are relatively harmless. They report back to their masters how many people have visted a website so advertisers can compile statistics.
AIF database projectI'm surprised it lasted as long as it did, because it would be very hard to justify the diversion of ADFA, ie Defence Department, resources necessary to create...
Others are actual programs which are sometimes downloaded with legitimate programs. They are sometimes on CD-ROMs and even music CDs. They can be very intrusive, sending information on your computing habits back to their base. Some will even cause your modem to automatically dial an overseas phone number resulting in a huge phone bill. If you use internet banking some can record your account details and send that on. Pbuttwords that you use for various sites can also be sent.
After all that, the internet is not dangerous if you take precautions like useing Ad-Aware AND an anti-virus program. To be frightened off by these nasties is a bit like refusing to go out in case you get hit by a car. It COULD happen.
It sounds like you just have tracking cookies. I suggest that you let Ad-Aware delete them but its nothing to panic about.
Graham Coward
-- Please reply to group or reply "off-group" by removing the two "z"s from my e-mail address.
Graham Coward Melbourne, Australia ===================== Coward Family History Web Site
