The world renowned PC Pitstop OverDrive Scan now scans for potentially dangerous Browser Helper Objects (BHOs) and Toolbar Add-Ons.

Just when I was becoming accustomed to using spyware removal tools and running the occasional Pitstop virus scan (few people keep their antivirus current these days), something new comes along.

Have you ever wondered why your machine seems like it's operating in mud or is just ignoring you? Well that's probably because it's operating just fine for someone else. Yep, we're talking Botnets. Botnets are using your CPU, draining your memory, just waiting to be told what to do by someone making money from your investment. You don't mind do you?

PC Pitstop has long been a source of information about unwanted software and how it spreads. Now we're using our test results database to give you weekly updates about which programs are the most prolific. The prevalence numbers indicate the percent of PCs tested at PC Pitstop where we detected that file running. Our detection works by file name, so some products may be listed multiple times if they consist of two or more files. To check for spyware, adware, unneeded programs, and many other common PC problems, try PC Pitstop Exterminate or our full system scan.

It was a cold day in South Dakota (circa 1990) as I entered the Gateway building. Unlike most days, the hustle and bustle of a rapidly growing computer company were missing, replaced by an eerie still and quietness. The security guard shook his head, and said, "The software download server got hit with a virus." All of production was shut down.

Wow! I sure am getting popular. My old girl friend and my "soon to be ex" wife are sending me love notes.

After realizing I wasn't suddenly the most important person in everyone's heart I did some checking. It seems that there has been a huge, and I do mean huge, resurgence in the old e-card scam.

It's time for a confession. Many of us have peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing software on our home PCs. Teenagers most often use P2P to search for and download the latest songs from their favorite artists and adults can find the songs of their youth. PC Pitstop research has shown that many of us have P2P programs such as Kazaa, Grokster, and Morpheus.

Since PC Pitstop opened in March 2000, we've tested and optimized more than a million computers. During that time, spyware has become a growing problem that threatens the stability and performance of your PC.
Our statistics indicate that more than 20% of PC's have some sort of spyware active in memory, stealing CPU cycles, using up system resources, delivering unwanted advertising, and often creating system instability. Worse yet, spyware can threaten your privacy.

If you had a complete knowledge of what most spyware was doing to your system, you would never agree to install it. So how does it end up installed on so many PCs? Here are some of the dirty tricks that spyware uses to worm its way onto your system and stay there. (Not all spyware uses every technique.)

The Gator Corporation makes several free applications that are distributed over the Internet. (On October 30, 2003, the company changed its name to Claria Corporation, but continues to operate in the same way it did before the name change.) Gator/Claria products are often delivered to end-users by being bundled with other applications or through "drive-by downloads" that pop up an ActiveX dialog and start the installation process if you say "Yes".

The overall prevalence of Anti Spyware Software has been relatively steady with a slight decreasing tendency during the past year. For PC's with Anti Spyware Software, the majority have more than one Anti Spyware title.