The only problems I have noticed on Rosity from spyware is when people link to images on other servers. Occasionally cookies pop up over and over with the same banner ads. I Didn't even know we could host those off site or I would. Sometimes I get cookie requests from angelfire/etc along with the image.

Since I started running Spybot I've had no problems. My iwon prize machine won't even work now but it turns out they were installing gator with it.

Some problems you may be calling down on yourself. If you haven't run the Microsoft updates ever then it's likely you have open ports and software can be pushed onto your machine. It's only a coincidence that you happen to be at rosity because the offending software is like a dialer. It trys open ports starting with 000, 001, 002, etc... If you hapen to be open and on that port it will find you. Updates are a necessary evil for the latest operating systems. If you're still running ME or windows 2000 one patch is all it takes because hackers generally leave the older systems alone.

Look in your control panel/ad-remove programs for words like Gator, top offers, 180 market, or anything that you don't recognise. If you run spybot or add aware or even some of the latest versions of mcafee or nav they will find these and remove them. If you are using some of the freeware photo editors sometimes the adware comes bundled with them and they won't work once it's removed. You can usually pick up a one or two release back version of paintshop or photodraw at the local computer sale for next to nothing. Look for sites like marketpro. they have shows about once every six months at convention centers throughout the southeast US. It's worth the price.

Message edited on: 12/30/2004 09:46