Spyware

The scourge of the current web. Spyware is showing up all over and almost imposible to keep out.
The original spyware of course just being Windows, but we won't go into that.
It's amazing how many people come to me complaining of slow computers but don't know what spy ware is. You tell them and they say "gee my home page changed recently to. I don't know why?"
I point them to http://lavasoftusa.com and tell them to download the free version of Adaware SE.
Invariably the responce the next day is a plate of cookies, a box of donuts or an offer for a free beer because "It's like I have a new computer. It removed (X) hundred files and boy is my computer fast now!"
I then tell them to get a good virus checker (most of the people I run into work where I work and have a copy of the corporate av software) and a firewall (anything but the MS one will do) and run adaware once a week.

To people who are more computer literate I also advise suing one of the on-line virus checkers such as house call at trend-micro because it's always good to have a second opinion.

Of course the real fix is install Linux (I like Xandros and FC2 personally but I am also partial to slackware and just putting a kernel on and adding what ever you want :-)

\\//_ LLAP
|||