Users of Yahoo's e-mail service should be aware that some of the advertisers are now using SPYWARE. The spyware is installed when one of the "advertiser's" ActiveX banner is served to you. I don't know if the ActiveX uses a browser "exploit" or if it just downloads the spyware automatically. These spyware programs installed files on my desktop and in my Program Files folder, attempted to chamge my home page, and changed my desktop to a "security warning" page (with a link to the company's website). The programs then installed numerous viruses into Windows' system files... and into files which could not be cleaned by my anti-virus program (even after loading the latest "dat" files). I normally have my IE settings on "normal" level and I run a program called Spybot in the background (which normally catches spyware programs before they are installed). Nothing mattered- the spyware was installed as if I had clicked a "Please install" button. I had to pull out the power plug on my computer to stop the process and unlpug my network cable to stop the spyware from updating itself. I spent about 2 hours in "panic mode" trying to remove all traces of these programs from my computer... with litte effect, since some files embed themselves into currently-running Windows' system files (which can not be removed or cleaned... even IF you could find them). I had to finally had to go back to a previous "System Restore Point" to fully erase this junk. I also downloaded Windows XP, Service Pack 2 as further protection. I highly recommend everyone else do the same. P.S. I apologize for posting an "off-topic" message to the Poser Forum, but I wanted to be sure that everyone sees this. --John

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