Spyware and adware are programs that monitor your internet browsing and, sometimes, screw up your web browsing.

If you have any of the following problems while using db.etree.org, you probably have spyware installed:

• Any pop-up advertising or banner ads. We don't do that, ever.
• Blank pages
• Any page that says "404" or "Page cannot be found." The only error message db.etree provides, ever, is Document not found. Return to db.etree.org
• Any time that you are redirected away from etree.org, or wind up at a search page. We don't do that, ever.

More information (external resources):
[What Is Spyware]
[What is Adware]

These programs are usually installed along with other programs you install, like Kazaa or eDonkey. They may also sneak through Internet Explorer if you visit certain sites that have malicious code on them.

We recommend that you use Safari or [Firefox] instead of Internet Explorer, because they are less vulnerable to being exploited by malicious code and may help prevent this type of problem. Also, they generally work better at db.etree.org.

Fortunately there are free resources for removing these parasites from your computer. We strongly recommend you download both [Ad-Aware] and [Spybot Search and Destroy]. Microsoft's "Windows Defender" Anti-spyware tool is good, too. These programs automatically search your computer and remove the offending programs. Remember to always use the update function before running these programs, to make sure you have the most current definitions for them.

You can download Spybot and Ad-Aware from Download.com, or you can pick up all three here: http://www.onlyeverything.com/downloads

It's a good idea to install all three because they each find different things that the other programs may miss. Better safe than sorry!