Anon -- admin rights and malware

No, but setting up stuff under a "user" allows you to control what else that "user" might do without affecting any other user or administrator. For example you could prohibit internet access to one user and allow it for others.

It will certainly help. In general, it is a good idea to have only one admin account, and only one or two individuals who have the password. Then all users log on as "Normal" or "resticted" users (Depending on the OS terminology), and you only sign on as the admin user when you have a specific identified need for that privilege.

Turning off cookies in your web browser will also help, but also makes some sights unusable. Most browser can also be setto ask before it lets a cookie be set, and you can see who wants to write the cookie, and some other information as well.

And, of course, beware on Sony CD's. Some of them have very malicious code that is installed as part of their copy protection system. I understand the the offending disks ahve been withdrawn form the retail channel, but there are a lot that have already been sold to unsuspecting consumers.

Two really useful freeware I have and recommend are Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy. I download those onto every computer I configure. I find when I run them the only thing I get is a few cookies. I use them together because one will often catch one or two things the other misses. I haven't had a spyware problem on my own pc for 2 years, even with my teenager surfing.

Also, McAfee has a useful freeware tool called Stinger. It is configured to find and destroy 54 of the most current viruses, trojans and worms. I run that in conjunction with the Ad-Aware and Spybot.

Microsoft also has a malware removal tool, although it has often missed stuff that Ad-Aware and Spybot both caught, and I cannot vouch for the veracity of the tool.

Some malware is really malicious and having users log in as normal or restricted users doesn't always prevent the stuff from being installed. Better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks to everyone for your ideas and feedback.

It appears that setting up limited user accounts will help prevent some problems but, of course, won't stop everything from getting through. I do put the free AdAware, Spybot Search and Destroy, Zone Alarm, AVG antivirus, and CCleaner on all of my computers. And, I also use Norton Antivirus on some of them.

The idea of limited user accounts also being helpful is new to me, but apparently it does work to some extent. So, my plan is to set up an Administrator account with a password for my use, then a limited user account for me to use in day-to-day operation (unless I need to install a program, etc.), and limited user accounts for others who use the computer.

Thanks again.

Norton AV is a resource hog and interfers with many other operations, such as installing other applications.

Ditch it.