Hi Charles,
Get rid of it.. basically. Have a look at any security site, and it's the first thing to be removed if installed.. (obviously, if it's not installed it doesn't have to be removed)
Reference The new.net software downloads and silently executes arbitrary code from its controlling server, as an update feature.
At least some older versions of the plug-in have been known to crash IE regularly. Newer versions seem to be less problematic, but as with all Winsock2 LSPs, clashes with other LSP-based software or damage to the software itself can result in network connectivity being broken.
And, I'm sure that no-one would be surprised that I had this... here's my C&P for removal.
Please go to
Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs, look for and remove
New.Net. If you can't find it, then please go
here and follow the removal instructions in
Procedure 4 at the bottom of the page.
Let me know if you have any problems. It can be fixed manually, but as it inserts itself in the winsock layer, it can wreck your internet connection if removed improperly.
Cheers
Liam