what is rootkit? how do i know if i have it? and how do i get rid of it?

Hi Rusty,

Please read LS CalamityJane's detailed description of various types of malware/spyware in this thread: http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?s...&hl=rootkit

Spcifically the 4th post in the thread (post#4 in top right corner).

There is also this "Pinned Post" from LS SteveJ in the Lavasoft Support Forums > Lavasoft Product Families > Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE > Ad-Aware SE section of the Forum:
Ad-Aware Freezing Issue

Hope this information is of use to you,

Spike

Thanks so much.

Hi Rusty,

There is also the ARIES Rootkit Remover developed by Lavasoft, to locate and permanently remove the Sony rootkit. A description is available here: http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=6

The actual download is available here: http://www.lavasoft.de/software/rootkit/

Hope that you find the info that you require ... and that you are not actually infected

Let us know how you get on,

Spike