spyware - what is it, is it safe to download

[gold123]

Ive just had a pop-up saying that my PC is infected with Spyware and if I want to get rid of it, I have to download a free scanner.

When I click to download, it reminds me that I should not open anything I'm not sure about. Is this safe, I don't know what to do as I am warned that this Spyware can hack into my system and can get passwords and bank account details when I type them in ?????

Anybody ????

we haves spy bot ( apprently)

I won't go there, actually I wouldn't agree to install anything that I have not wanted, searched and downloaded myself. (I ruined my Macintosh one day trying to install some stupid software that would make the computer say "byebye" before turning off, it took two weeks for the technicians to sort it out )

I meant hte "! bye Bye " bit
did you fess up to t he techies?

theres a bit in todays Sunday Times about spyware...

Do not down load from this site as it infects pc - check out previous thread on how to get read - safe software = ad aware and spy sweeper

Well I went into the shop where I bought my PC from and their tech's told me to go to www.download.com (a safe place) and download Ad-Aware and Spybot search and destroy.

Ive done this and they have detected 123 bugs on my machine and destoyed them. I hope that puts a stop to all those annoying pop-ups that I keep getting asking me to visit adult sites !!!

Like others have said, I had this confirmed - DO NOT OPEN spyware

thanks!! I have been meaning to sort this out as I kept getting weird stuff on my cpu also companies kept installing stuff!! Kept putting it off but as you mentioned keylogger trojan and i have made some purchases... I will d/load.
I was very weary of d/loading anything from pop ups so thanks for confirmation.