So, I'm somewhat computer illiterate I suppose, and I recently downloaded Spybot in order to help protect my computer. Quite a few things I didn't really understand popped up! What are registry keys, values, and changes? And what are directorys? Should I delete these or what? Thank you for any advice you might give my silly noobish self! XD

"Directory" is just an earlier name for "Folder". The registry has a control function for all programs and contains essential information. Keys and Values are entries and sub-entries. Sometimes they get changed by malware. If you stick to the "basic scan" then you are pretty safe to let SpyBot remove anything nasty it finds. Best to lay off the more advanced features until you understand them properly. DerekW

I recall saying much the same last evening, as well as providing a link to the Spybot tutorial ... alas, that message is no more - - apparently my jocular agreement with the OP's own assessment of her level of computer literacy incited the ever vigilant moral watchdogs presiding to deem that post reprehensible, and sent it packing to oblivion It's a great comfort to see that we all must adhere to a strict (but delightfully & vaguely subjective) code of ethics, where even the appearance (albeit mistaken) of impropriety is promptly & efficiently crushed out of existence bravo I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.