Ah, don't know about this particular app but there are other apps that should help prevent such things (like spyware and browser highjacking) and there are apps that can let you see what browser helper objects (BHO's) are installed to work with your IE. I'm talking freeware. I'm not aware of a freeware all in one deal that seems to cover all of this stuff but you might check out apps like SpyBot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware, SpywareBlaster, SpywareGuard. (Googling by name should get you to their sites.)

SSD and AA are for scanning to check for spyware, not really preventative as far as I'm aware, although SSD does do some things that perhaps SWB does better in terms of prevention. SWB and SG are preventative apps. There's at least one app I've used long ago to view BHO's but I can think of the name at the moment.

Right now there are more commercial apps coming out for this stuff, but you have to be careful. Some of them are actually sold by outfits that engage in spyware and have found another way to profit off it. Others simply charge for stuff others provide for free (although donations are ususally welcome for the freeware developers). Some of these apps vendors also have ripped some of the freeware apps and are now making bucks off their rips. (Again I don't know about the app you mentioned, so no reflection on that one at all, just the marketplace for these sort of apps is getting rather cut throat.)

Spywareinfo.com is a good site with forums to check out apps or what's new in the fight against spyware. They also have forums there where you can ask about apps or post if you have a problem identifying and/or getting rid of some of this crud from your pc. You might want to check it out too. Hope this helps.

Unfortunately IE is the largest target for these yahoos.I recently had a bad eperience with a browser hijacker called 'coolwebsearch'.They are an extremely clever bunch let me tell you.Grabbed my browser and not only added a bunch of porn links but erased all MY links.If only they would use their powers for good. This is basically a virus/trojan.Tough to get rid of.I'd whup their ASS if I could get my hands on them. > If you encounter this one,do a google search on their name and look for the removal tool.(and check out all the 'I hate 'coolwebsearch' pages.Coolwebsearch's own ad says "the search engine you can trust" grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Immunize works GREAT. Although I mainly use Mozilla, I occasionally use IE for a couple of sites that don't seem to like 'zilla very much. Immunized SSD has caught many many things that like to creep into IE.

firebird.

Link?

Thanks DT

Thanks for all the replies. I use Mozilla Thunderbird as my email client, and I love it. Makes me feel very safe.
But, I find Firebird to be a bit "clunky", for lack of a better term. It seems to hang and jerk and just not run as smoothly as IE, unfortunately. I just don't know why. Ars Tecnica has a really good review of it; actually of the gecko engine, itself. But, as I said, I'm sticking with IE for now. However, I'm using that nifty lil' overlay, called Avant Browser. Seems to work well.

I'm going to try Spybot Search and Destroy. Seems like Ad-Aware and Spybot are a favorite combo among you techie types. Maybe I'll try a few others. I won't pay for a program unless I'm sure I'm not getting duped. And, that's almost impossible. I'm not the most trusting of souls when it comes to internet security.