Annoying new desktop icons. Where did they come from?

Do you happen to have some odd new icons on your desktop?
You didn't put them there, they just appeared one day; "Bingo", "Website Hosting", "Casino Online", and more.

Sorry, but you've been attacked by Trojan ad-ware. Sometime in your recent past you visited a website that suggested you may have spyware on your computer. Innocently you click the link to find out what it's all about. However, that click just installed ad-ware that will pop-up advertising in your face. Ad-ware that claims to detect spyware. That's kind of like the "The Joker" claiming he'll do in "The Penguin".

There's always hope to regain control of your desktop.

First, download SpyBot Search and Destroy and use it weekly. http://www.safer-networking.org

Second, keep your computer virus free. Do it for free with AVG http://www.grisoft.com

Third, download Firefox and remove IE. (see previous blog).

If you still see the icons, do some searching on the Internet and learn about MSCONFIG (Windows XP). You've likely got some bad programs that just keep reloading themselves. Click, Start, Run and MSCONFIG. Then click "Startup" and uncheck anything that looks out of place like "Grim32", "Funk Type", and "Bone Third".

Last, support legislation in your local community that bans advertisers from installing applications to your computer.

Fight for freedom - let's prevent anyone from installing any software on your computer without YOUR permission.

You might as well let someone mount a video camera in your kitchen. Ad-ware and Spyware is just the same; recording and invading your privacy.

RB