Problem: Internet Explorer continually resets Internet Options to "allow all cookies" and after a while several traking cookies are added (typically adclick, doubleclick and zedo). Occassional pop-ups to a random variety of websites occur, even though the pop-up blocker shows OK. Final observation... process "explorer.exe" (not IEsplorer) at some point starts incrementing its memory usage by 4K about every second. It has worked its way up past the 150Mb level before I shut it down. What I have done so far: Desktop sw firewalled and McAfee AV-Pro realtime on. Tracking cookies are detected and "fixed" by SpyBotS&D. Additionally, Windows Defender, Microsoft OneCare Online and McAfee Anti-virusPro all show "no problems". HijackThis shows nothing too peculiar except maybe a couple of unnamed BHO's. I have run VirusPro in safe mode and in normal mode with explorer.exe and winlogon.exe supsended by processexplorer, I have gone through the regedit, sfc /scannow and tried a signature verification. I have temporarily disabled system restore checkpoints. Possible relevant background. A week ago, I deleted a trojan identified as 'virtumonde' that my wife let in from a bogus warning box. I deleted using the various lists from the Symmantec and McAfee web-sites (safe,regedit, etc.) It has not shown up since. Sorry for long-winded. First post of any type, but my limited knowledge as already been exhausted.

Unfortunately, this is an unavoidable aspect of McAfee Security, which like all firewalls, over-ride you personal internet settings. Most other firewalls, however, allow you the same control via their program. McAfee lets you do this, but it is very limited (and pretty useless). Here's how: If you open your McAfee security centre, on the main page you'll see 'Configure' and 'View Details' tabs at the bottom right corner of the screen. Click the 'Configure' tab, then 'Users/Advanced' and the select 'parental controls' in the left pane. Click 'cookie blocking' and you'll be given the options of Allow, Reject and Prompt all cookies. So, basically you can choose to let every cookie in (other than those which McAfee will block via its firewall etc...), you can reject every cookie (which is pointless), or you can have McAfee ask you what you want to do with each and every cookie (which is a pain in the .....) If I were you, I would wait until it was time to renew my subscription, and then DON'T! Sorry I couldn't be more help. I also found out the hard way that McAfee is rotten! J