[Senator Pardek]

Dude, when I check what processes are running on my box, I find a few executables I do not recognize. How do I find out what they are (XP user)?

[Sir Gawain]

Just start ending processes. Start with explorer.exe and go from there.

[Sir Gawain]

kidding

[Cicero]

Sometimes if a running executable is named, you can search for it on your computer and tell from its location or its Properties what it is. That isn't a bad idea, because it's good to know what your computer is up to.

I also use AdAware regularly, because my kids seem to visit sites that plant advertising spyware in my computer.

[martin_fierro]

Hmmm, not sure about what programs are running in XP's background, but run AdAware and have it do a "deep registry scan."

If it identifies files with the following names:
Cydoor
Alexa
Gator
flag 'em for deletion.

Just know that if you remove some programs' Spyware, you also lose functionality of that program.