Tech : Spyware?

[Earl Sande <sandes@CODETEL.NET.DO>]

I downloaded a recommended program that would compress picture files
(JPEGs) and it was tremendous, but I am told by someone in the clip-art
newsgroup that it is "Spyware", which reads all the information on my hard
disk drive and anytime I go onto the internet. Somehow it relays
information back to somewhere.  It takes a special program to even
uninstall it.  Thank goodness my wife's a computer teacher and has removed
it.  What on earth is "spyware"?

Second, we're going to install to make sure nothing like this happens again
by not allowing others to remote access my hard disk drive.  Will that also
stop my use of the McAfee Online Viruschecker?

Earl
Earl P Sande
Elementary School Librarian
Director of Library Services
Carol Morgan School
Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic
e-mail :  sandes@codetel.net.do

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu   In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=