Spyware is like a common flu. If you didn't  do anything it will be too dangerous. If you ignore it, your system starts o drag a little and hen a lot... and then things start getting weird, with loads of pop-ups, maybe a changed browdser home page. Of course, your immune system will wipe out your flu eventually whereas spyware tends to get worse and worse, often inviting its spyware buddies to little parasites parties on your system.

So, how do you pick up spyware? About as easily as a flu - all you have to do is browse the Web for a while. REMEMBER, "NOT ALL FREEWARE IS REALLY FREE." - in some cases, you pay by getting spyware along with it. If you use a peer-to-peer file sharing program, you almost certainly have spyware, either directly bundled with the sharing program or from an infected fellow file sharer.

HERE are some steps to minimize he risk of flu.

1. Don't take any candy from strangers: if you didn't specifically request a download, don't click on OK button to tell your browser the you want the download.

2. If it's spam, dont click: It wont enhance your love life or your hairline, but it may load malicious code on your system.

3. Don't invite anyone in: Set Internet Explorer to prompt you when sites attempt to push Active X conrols onto your machine - and to reject unsigned active X controls automatically (click Tools (located at the above of your browser) - then Internet Options -  then Security - then Custom settings).

4. Don't give it all up: If you must use a file sharing application, at least set it not to share your entire harddrive. In fact, consider keeping any files you might want to share in one specific folder, and the setting the application to share only that folder. At the very least, exclude all system folders (anything within C:\Windows) from file sharing.