A week or so ago, I found an icon in my Internet Explorer "favorites" for a spyware or adware removal tool. I clicked it to check it out, and a window opened on my computer, wanting to install something. Names of files kept flashing past, like it was scanning my computer. There were grey buttons to click to cancel installation, but I didn't trust them - so I clicked on the "x" on the upper-right corner of the window and closed it.

I used Norton to scan my computer for malware, and found nothing.

A few days later, I found a link to the same "utility" on my desktop.

I wish I could remember the name of the thing - it was some official-sounding name that was supposed to clean dangerous things off my computer. I Googled the thing at the time, and found no negative information about the program through Google or Symantec. Nonetheless, I think it's highly suspicious because of the way it wants to do its thing without my being able to control it. Is anybody aware of this program? How did it come to install links on my desktop and "favorites"? How can I stop it from doing this?

My boss at the Women's Center found the same thing on her computer today, and it keeps wanting to run. I'm trying to talk her through the removal so I don't have to drive the 40 miles to Sacramento to fix. Any hints?

Here's a page that has an interesting list of "rogue anti-spyware":
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

-Joe-