6. GroupMail - Visit www.infacta.com to download free version of GroupMail. The program allows you to email and do mail merge to your entire database of contacts. It's a great way to stay in touch with customers, family, and clients.

7. Google - As far as I'm concerned, Google.com rates as Web's best search engine. When I need to find something online in a hurry, Google usually produces exactly what I want to locate!

8. Front Page - Say what you want about Microsoft, but FrontPage html editor has served me well for last 5 years and counting. Though I don't use more advanced features, I can always count on FrontPage to help me get my web pages done quickly and easily.

9. Smart FTP - Log on to www.smartftp.com and download a free copy of easiest FTP program I've every used. If you need to transfer files to and from a web server and you know how to use Windows Explorer, Smart FTP will enable you to upload files to web like a pro in minutes.

10. Note Tab Light - Perhaps my favorite tool of all. Note Tab enables me to easily format text messages for my newsletters, manipulate html code and remove formatting from word processing documents. Log on to www.notetab.com for a free copy of "light" version.

Double-click on aaw6.exe to execute installation program (with Windows 2000, first login as Administrator). The installation program puts an icon for Ad-aware on your desk top.

Double click on icon to execute Ad-aware. In Ad-aware program window, click on [Scan now] button. On "Preparing system scan" page click on [Next] button.

Ad-aware takes a few minutes to scan your hard drive and registry for spy programs and data tracking cookies. On my system it returned results:

44 objects recognized 1 Registry key identified 43 files identified

When scanning is complete, click on [Next] button. This takes you to "scanning results page" which displays a list of objects found. One object found on my computer was "Alexa Data Miner". Then click on [next] button. A dialog box appears asking if you want to remove objects. Click on [OK] button to delete spy objects.

The free Ad-aware Standard Edition removes spy software and data tracking cookies from your system. The $27.00 Ad-aware Plus Edition adds real-time monitoring and blocking to program. Not only can you remove spy programs from your computer, but you can also BLOCK them from invading your system in first place! I found Ad-aware easy to install and use, and very effective.

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