When I came online today my MSN guy was on. This is unusual since I don't ever use it. Then I started getting messages telling me certain people had signed on and I looked and it had my name as Jado or something like that. So, I had someone elses MSN on my computer. How could that happen? I have McAffee Security

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 03:12 pm:

Are you the only person who uses your computer? I know at my house, when Jeff is on *my* computer and his friends are here, all kinds of names get added to my MSN Messenger and AOL messenger. Sounds just like what you are describing. And in doing that, they had added their own userames to *my* messengers. I deleted the usernames that were not supposed to be there and all those messages ceased.

By Paulas on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 05:46 pm:

no one else uses my computer

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 08:41 am:

Check for spyware. You can download AdAware (not Ad (space) Aware) and Spybot from PCWorld - both are free, both work very well. In both programs, be sure to download the updates before running them the first time. If you type spybot in google, scroll down to the PCWorld page and go to that. You will see a list of security programs, and I always find both AdAware and Spybot on this page.

In both programs you will, after the program finishes its search, see a list of items the program considers spyware that are on your computer - the first time I did this I had over 50 pieces of spyware on my computer, and one woman at the office had over 115. You check the boxes for the ones you want deleted/blocked, or tell it to delete/block all. Spybot also has a sub-program to immunize your computer against some of the more common spyware programs and I suggest you use it.

AdAware has a spyware blocker program to which you have to subscribe (not free), but the basic detection program is free. Spybot is shareware, and if you use it and like it you can decide whether to send some money.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 09:27 am:

Ginny's right, we use both of those, at home AND at my office. Try that, and try deleting any usernames in your messenger program that are not you.

By Wandilu on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 06:05 pm:

hello, just want to let you all know that AVG 6.0 antivirus works great and it is free. unless you want to subscribe to it. it stoped all of the adware and spyware promblems we had. you can get the download from the internet. good luck