my active desktop has been replaced with a message about spyware, anyone know the cause?

it's probably spyware itself that did it. Or a virus. antispyware programs don't do that.

Try this...

avast! Home Edition is free of charge for non-commercial home use. You can find more information here. If you are not a home user, or you use your computer for profit, avast! Home Edition is not licensed for such use, and you are asked to use the commercial version - avast! Professional Edition.

To use the Home Edition, you should register it, however, after initial installation you have 60 days to trial the product (as with all avast! antivirus products) before you must complete registration. The registration process is very easy, and will take you only a couple of minutes.

All the setup packages are in the form of self-extracting executables and are digitally signed by ALWIL Software.

Your computer likely has a Smitfraud infection. Any "warnings" are fradulant and a scam.

Almost all "general purpose","all-in one" spyware and virus removal programs such as AVG, Norton, McAfee or Spybot S & D cannot remove it.

The standard tool to remove this pest is SmitfraudFix. The full removal procedure and the free removal tool is here:

http://siri.urz.free.fr/Fix/SmitfraudFix_En.php

After running SmitfraudFix, to clean-up any remaining infection traces, scan for trojans, adware, cookies, and spyware and remove (free online scan, no downloaded program) with Ewido Online Scanner ( now known as AVG Anti-Spyware). This is NOT the same as AVG Anti-Virus. Press "Scan your computer now online and clean it for free!" on the left.

http://www.ewido.net/en/

Good luck!

It is a malware program that got past your protection. Don't listen to quick reply answers about re-booting or freeware.

Forget all the dumb stuff. Most of thier advice is just to get points for firing off as many answers as they can. Try downloading one of the top anti-malware programs available ( according to AV-Comparatives latest report) http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/er...

Here is a FREE 30 day trial of KAPERSKY

http://usa.kaspersky.com/trials/home-use...

This Will fix your problem.

Yes, you are infected with Virus or maliciouse software that Hijack your Desktop.

please do scan yuor PC with Antivirus program.

Its smitfraud:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic17258....

HI! agree with Big Mike---why dont you try Kaspersky---and please dont respond to the message you get --its spyware or a virus itself!!!!----cheers!