On the Consumer Alert, here is a follow-up report about a story we did about spyware.

Millions have downloaded spyware onto their computers without even realizing it. Spyware tells advertisers were you go when you are online, then they send you pop-up ads. But you can get rid of it for free.

Nancy Driscoll at Cape May Technical High School saw our initial report, and she decided to check her son's computer. She found 128 spyware components.

"His computer was so slow and that's why," Driscoll said.

Once she deleted all the spyware, the computer started working much faster. Nancy said they weren't sure how the spyware even got onto the computer.

"We had a pop-up stopper," Driscoll said.

So Driscoll went back to some Web sites where they recently downloaded software. She took a close look at their licensing agreements.

"Buried in the license were a series of sentences that said you're giving us permission to embed a pop-up ad program into your hard drive," Driscoll said.

Nancy next wanted to try the computers at Cape May County Technical High School.

"I started on the teacher computer and there were 93 components on here," Driscoll said.

Then she tried the student's computers. She didn't expect to find any spyware.

"We have fortress that locks down the computer, so they cannot download or transfer software onto the computer," Driscoll said. "They can't even change computer setting such as background and wallpaper."

"First one I hit had 43 components on there actively spying with people's logins associated with them," Driscoll said.

Nancy deleted all the spyware from the students computers.

Experts say spyware is often associated with music programs and some instant messaging programs.

But it can be installed on your computers just by visiting some websites or clicking on some pop up ads.

You can see if there is any "spyware" on your computer for free by going to the following two Web sites:

unwantedlinks.com/spyware-info.htm
www.lavasoftusa.com