What you mean is that you lost your puter to a cracker. There's a diff between the two, though most people don't realize it. I'm an ex hacker. I have several friends that are hackers, one that works for the FBI in their hack division. My computer is impenetrable. Only one port open. And that one's protected. I run virus scans weekly. I keep no valuable information on the computer at all. I'm too desperately poor to even think about having a credit card or a bank account. Aureate doesn't bother me. As for trojans, I don't open files from anyone I don't know. ever. I've even told the writers that submit to my magazine that I will not open Word documents, ever, under any circumstances from anyone. Word is the primary carrier for trojans and viruses. That and outlook express. I've had people try to crack me, but I've never been cracked. Common sense protection and knowing how to seal windows prevents most of it. And it doesn't matter if you have a firewall or anything else. If someone is determined to crack you, they will. Aureate doesn't bother me. MIcrosoft and Intel with their serial numbered chips bother me. That's why I also refuse to use Pentium chips or any microsoft program other than win and media player.

Talent is God's gift to you. Using it is your gift to God.