Who is the Spammer?
(Maybe it's you!)
If you are not using an updated virus scanner and are not using at least two or more spyware scanners, your computer could be a 'zombie computer'. This is especially true if you don't keep your Windows updated.
You may be wondering why your computer isn't as fast as it used to be when it was new. If you surf using Internet Explorer and don't have ActiveX disabled, if you get HTML email and use the Preview pane and if you open email from strangers (spam) it is quite likely your computer is part of a 'bot network' and is sending out spam, trojans and worms to everyone in your address book.
Some computers that are zombies and part of a botnet may also be sending out the type of spyware that can steal people's identities, including the owner's.
If your computer is part of a botnet, you could lose your Internet connection. Some ISPs are now trying to stop users from using excessive bandwidth.
So take the time to update your virus scanner, your spyware scanners and
update Windows. Don't be a spammer!