: dunno about Skype, never used it, but have
: heard (don't know for sure) about all kindsa
: bad stuff supposedly associated with it-
: malware, spyware, keyloggers,autodialers,
: etc, that drop into your computer and bollix
: things up... if nothing else, they just take
: up your HD space and slow things down...

: paranoid? who, me?
: ..yup.

: I do know that Yahoo IM and MSN IM both work
: well with the webcam and a headset. ..just
: another alternative..

Now that everyone is suitably alarmed, Skype is nuthing but a "Voice Over Internet" gig that does none of the bad things you enumerate above.

By the way, headsets are required with these services only if voice privacy is desired. They all work well with computer speakers and the microphone built into most webcams. You just look at your screen and talk; even I can do it.

The outfit I believe you are thinking of, Lumpy, is the music-sharing service named "Kazaa," of which nothing good can be said.

Bob

Re "paranoid," in your case Lumpy I would not use that term, as they probably really are following you. Or should be, if they are not.