Am I being hacked?

No program they is under $1000 can cetch every single hacker,virus,adware,malware,ect. I dont care what they say. I get rid of virus with my own personal anti-virus software and it I have to amight dosn't get every thing. What you have to do is get spyware doctor, yahoo anti-spyware, and Windows defender. They all search for different things. Keep norton cause they do a awsome job with viruses (Based off of the 2006 versoin).

Simple solution and to avoid this from happening again:

Back-up any data you want to save

Format harddrive

Install operating system

Install Antivirus software

Install Firewall software

and

Install Adaware

Run Adaware every chance you get. Usually once a few days. Keep your virus definitions updated and your firewall updated and you won't have much problems. If you don't do all that now days, your computer will get messed up.

Use ZoneAlarm as your firewall program. You can either use Norton Antivirus, McAfee, AFG (freeware), Panda,....

I'm sure you can trust your friend not to install any spyware, adware, etc. But if you want to keep on the safe side, you should purchase Norton AntiVirus, AntiSpyware, and AntiAdware. they are superb programs, that will definitely protect you against just about any problem.

Spyware and being hacked are two different things.

go to www.downlaod.com and download now the following

Lavasoft Ad-Aware

this is a spyware remover

Run it and delete any spyware stuff.

Buy a router if you think you are being hacked... A router is extra security and are very cheap

UPDATE: DO NOT FORMAT YOUR HARDRIVE. IF YOU ARE NOT CONFIDENT ABOUT THIS YOU WILL GET INTO TROUBLE

I don't think that "knowledgeable person" is very knowledgeable if they say spyware cannot be detected.

Scan for spyware with the tools listed in the first answer, and any spyware should be detected.

yes you can find them.

There is a lot of effective spyware programs but I will advice you one of them.

Windows defenender. It is free spyware and anti-virus program to people who purchased windows. click the first link in the sources.

Get Windows Defender from microsoft.com and Ad-Aware from download.com. Do a deep scan of your computer with each of these programs. You should be fine if your computer comes out clean.

download ad-aware, spybot search and destroy, avg anti virus and zone alarm firewall... thats all the safety u need.. scan ur comp with this stuff regularly u wont have any probs... u can get them all on download.com.. and yes it is possible to tell if u have spyware rightnow using spybot search and destroy.

ad-aware scans are ok but try avg free i think it is or avk(av somethig...) its the best free program out there and has a running scan on it. use it!!you may have to go to the main site and try searching for free thats all though and there is no annoying things tellin you to upgrade or nothing. what you see is what you get

yes go to microsft.com and download windows defender