I just installed a new version of Norton's Internet Security. Now a box will pop up asking me if I want to allow certain sites. How can I make an informed decision when it just says hcm.exe. I do not know what program this would allow to execute. Can you tell me what hcm.exe is and how I can find out what other abbreviated programs are?

Hi,
Hcm.exe is a program, which is to say, it will install itself into your computer.
It is not harmful, but it's something you don't really need... it can be used as a task manager for rarely used programs.
Tell your Norton security to not allow it.
You can go to http://www.google.com, type in the name you want info on, then click on Search, to read many, many links associated with that name.
As a general rule, I would not allow any .exe file to be downloaded from the web, UNLESS it's a download that you are doing yourself... such as downloading an install file from some site.
You will be spending a lot of time at first, telling these pop-ups whether to allow them or not.
You can accomplish the same thing by using a great, free program called Spyware Blaster. This program, when installed, automatically stops stuff like this from being downloaded, without asking you. It is not a scanner, (you don't have to scan with it like AdAware, etc), but can be updated regularly, just like Anti-virus definitions.
If interested, you can get it at:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

It's called Spyware Blaster 3.3

Best wishes,
fredg

I just installed a new version of Norton's Internet Security. Now a box will pop up asking me if I want to allow certain sites. How can I make an informed decision when it just says hcm.exe. I do not know what program this would allow to execute. Can you tell me what hcm.exe is and how I can find out what other abbreviated programs are?

Fred is right. I only want to let you know that Norton will give you this type of warning often. ALWAYS tell norton not to let unknow programs in.

Just some more to add. You can search your hard drive for the file in question to see what folder its in. You may be able to identify the program by the folder. If not, just Google the filename. You will most likely find out what it is that way.