“But what about all free anti-spyware?” you ask. If you go to http://www.apcug.net/Reports/Editorial/2004.htm, you’ll see under December 2004 an article “Beware of SCUMWARE Pretending to be Anti-Spyware” which tells one man’s experience. Sometimes what you get for nothing is nothing. Or worse than nothing.

When my computer ran slower and slower, some parts of my website disappeared, and question marks appeared all over my website homepage, I yelped for help. Should have yelped sooner, but better late than never. Asked my website manager what he uses. He uses Lavasoft’s PROFESSIONAL program of Ad-Aware and Ad-Watch. I bought it, and it found 17 pieces of spyware (Alexas and tracking cookies), plus a possible browser hijack attempt. (The techie said, “That’s nothing. They found 83 pieces of spyware on mine!” But then he’s a pro.) Ad-Aware removed all problems except question marks on my website home page, http://foodandfiction.com/Entrance.html. These are probably due to attempted hijack. I’m stuck with them. Fortunately they don’t show on any computer except mine.

If you want to lead a simple life, come here to http://lavasoft.com and download their PROFESSIONAL type of Ad-Aware and Ad-Watch.

If you prefer an in-depth investigation of anti-spyware, http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,119572,00.asp can help you. They’ve tested most of anti-spyware out there, though I must say that Ad-Aware’s pro version was not tested, only pc version.

Just don’t wait until you’re in big trouble. Do something now!

IF YOU’VE BEEN HIJACKED

A good, basic article can be found by going to http://www.apcug.net/Reports/Editorial/2004.htm. Scroll down to September 2004 and download “Help! I’ve Been Hijacked . . .”

Another good article is, “How to Remove Adware and Spyware,” http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/a/removespyware.htm.

You might also read “Invasion of Browser Snatchers” at http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,84464,tk,dn021402X,00.asp. The article will explain how to undo damage -- although some hijack damage can’t be removed that easily.

MORE INFORMATION

Here are more good sources of spyware information:

http://www.scumware.com/ - a website about nothing else but.

http://www2.spywareinfo.com/category/news/ has fascinating current Internet security news flashes, which you will enjoy if you like to feel that civilization as we know it is under constant threat.

Find the best recipe, food gift, and healthy dieting sites on Janette Blackwell’s Delightful Food Directory, http://delightfulfood.com/main.html -- or enjoy her country cooking at Food and Fiction, http://foodandfiction.com/Entrance.html

“For upcoming quarter, we will initiate a website utilization project to maximize worth and further expand depth of new websites. These websites will be tools for anyone interested in boosting their practices or small businesses. From marketing help to organization advice, we plan on creating an Internet presence that benefits anyone who accesses our websites,” explained Fred King, CEO for Hollander Consultants.

In addition to five new websites, Hollander Consultants maintains two additional websites, http://www.hollanderconsultants.com and http://www.solutionsmags.com.

Based in Portland, Hollander Consultants was named one of top 50 companies to work for in Oregon by Oregon Business magazine, chief publication for Oregon businesses.

Hollander Consultants is one of leading national consulting firms in United States and Canada for combined dentistry, optometry and veterinary professions and uses administrative systems developed by business management pioneer, L. Ron Hubbard.