A program that provides custom window designs on your computer also invades your privacy and causes unstable computer behavior, said Tim Randall, desktop-support manager.

Consequently, he said, the program - called Hotbar - shouldn't be installed, and if it is already installed, it should be deleted.

Downloadable from http://www.hotbar.com, Hotbar allows a computer user to create custom window designs in Internet Explorer and Outlook.

But as documented at www.doxdesk.com/parasite/Hotbar.xml and elsewhere, Hotbar is spyware, Randall said.

"It invades your privacy and tracks what sites you are visiting on the Internet to target you with advertising, which it also pops up on your desktop," he said.

"It auto-updates itself and spies on users even when it is inactive. Even when removed through the add/remove control panels, pieces of Hotbar linger.

"Hotbar also has been known to cause unstable behavior in both Internet Explorer and Outlook."

For Hotbar to be deleted, an Information Technology staff member should manually remove registry keys. For such assistance and more information, call IT at 206-667-5700.