David,

I am currently studying Computer information security. Things you are talking about are really not as bad as you may think. The media tends to make mountains out of mole hills as a scare tactic.

Here is a good utility to clean your computer of malicious information.... Glary Utilities. It is free and removes any Malware, Spyware, fixes bad registry problems. Just make sure to not have it run the Tracks Eraser....this could cause you some major problems if you don't know what you are doing. I run mine at least once a week. It's amazing and has my computer running the best it ever has.

Don't worry about the data miners.... they are more interested in the businesses than in the average joe. Just make sure you have your internet secured and strong passwords on everything.

Donna,
As far as employers reading things online... yes, they may do this.... but mostly they don't have time. I really wouldn't worry to much about it. If they do read what you have written online... just ask them if they don't have better things to do with their time than to snoop on what you are doing in your private time and life. As long as you are not doing it on their time it's none of their business.

Abbie.