"Spyware - A general term for a program that surreptitiously monitors your actions. While they are sometimes sinister, like a remote control program used by a hacker, software companies have been known to use spyware to gather data about customers. The practice is generally frowned upon."
I recommend Alexa and have a link here on this site were you can sign up for it.
Yes..I run "Ad-Ware" from time to time and I know it list it as "SpyWare" and other programs detect and report Alexa as spyware. That does not make it spyware.
If you run a firewall it will detect, at first, everything as an attack on your computer. You learn and fine turn the firewall and you see that you have to all certain ports to be used else the Internet will not work and you might as well turn off your computer. So you see that the firewall software or hardware detects and reports everything but you use your common sense and good judgement to decide what is OK and what is not OK.
I have been using Alexa for a long time. I love it.
Some People Think That The Alexa ToolBar is SpyWare - I do NOT Agree
"Popup Manager
Surf without interruption using Alexa's new Popup Manager. Blocks most popup advertisements!"
It is an excellent popup manager but I don't care about that. I can live with the popups or use some other program for them. If you don't have a popup manager you might want it for that reason. That is not my reason.
"World's Best Search!
Quick and easy access to Web Search, powered by Google, enhanced by Alexa, is built into the toolbar."
That is one reason that I use and recommend Alexa. The Google search is excellent but it is improved by Alexa and it is right on your toolbar.
"Plus More...
Includes all of the features you have come to expect from Alexa, including Search, Site Info, Related Links and more."
Now this is the part that I love. When you go to any web site. You can click on links on the tool bar and find out how many people go to that site. You can find it ranking and see it. You can see reviews of the site. You can find the address and phone number of the site. You can what other sites are like that site.
Try this link and I think it will show you a little of what I mean: Howard's Notebook
There are other reasons that I like Alexa. For the web site owner if a person downloads a copy from your site then there will be a link on that tool bar to your site. Also if you are signed up with Amazon.Com then if a person uses that tool bar and the Amazon Link on the tool bar then you will get a commission on the stuff they buy. I have never got a commission but it is a nice feature that might work well for sites that get a lot of traffic.
So Alexa is NOT spyware. It is just one powerful help for you when you surf the Internet. If the word spyware scares you or your not wanting to use all the tools and powers of the Internet then.. forget about it. If you love to check out sites and when you find a good site you want to find other sites like it or if you want to do a search and find all the information that you need..then you need Alexa.
One small story.. Hilary had a problem with some company and she could not find any what to contact the people. She had been on the telephone calling information and trying everything. I just went to their web site. I clicked on the Alexas toolbar and I got their 1-800 phone number from the pop up.
I recommend Alexa to all of you that are not scary cats.
