I got an offline message on YIM in the wee hours of the morning from a chatdetectives.com_ab51 promoting a website that sells IM spy stuff...you know, spy on your sig. other type of deal. I was wondering how this person got my info and if anyone else has gotten IM's from these Chat Detective people.

I just checked my archive and that IM is gone. Smells of spyware or something. Darn it.

Hi PCIlliterateGal,
Have you tried updating and running your Anti-Spyware scans and see what shows up/they get rid of? (ie-Spybot,Ad-Aware,Avg-AS[aka ewido].....)

I scanned my computer with AVG, Spybot and Ad-Aware and all I found were the usual suspects...seemingly harmless cookies and stuff.

Is Ewido free?

Ewido has recently changed to AVG-Anti-Spyware. Basically same program,but new name and a new and improved version.
Yes its free,for the first thirty days (trial period). The updates are automatic during the trial period and if you choose not to purchase it you can still keep it, but must remember to update it manually before you perform your scans.Not a big deal.
Product info and download http://www.ewido.net/en/product/

Thanks. I now have AVG Antispyware.

I did find something fairly suspicious with Adaware, but I can't remember what it was.

You're welcome,good program for you to have on board.