Just about everything the computer is running is displayed in some form in the process list, assessed from the task manager in Windows. Knowing what processes should and shouldn't be running can help you figure out if you have spyware, etc. running in the background.
Here are a couple of useful tools as to what the various processes listed in task manager do. These can be a good resource if you are suspicious of a process but aren't sure if you should shut it down.
The first is a program that gives details on the running processes including the DLLs the process is using. Notice that it is FREE!!!
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml
The second is an index of commonly known processes and the relative safety of ending them.
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
Here are a couple of useful tools as to what the various processes listed in task manager do. These can be a good resource if you are suspicious of a process but aren't sure if you should shut it down.
The first is a program that gives details on the running processes including the DLLs the process is using. Notice that it is FREE!!!
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml
The second is an index of commonly known processes and the relative safety of ending them.
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm