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I am a big fan of McAfee's SiteAdvisor service--so I was devastated when it put up a "red flag" warning for my own Web site. I am the treasurer and information manager for our local yacht club. Looking at SiteAdvisor's explanation for the warning, I realized that the problem was a page in which people willing to crew for a skipper can leave their contact information. According to SiteAdvisor, that arrangement made it possible for spammers to harvest the information and spam the crew volunteers.

We removed the offending page, but now I can't get through to SiteAdvisor to get the warning taken down. It seems nearly impossible for a Web site administrator to reach them.

Sharon Gibson, Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii

On Your Side responds: We contacted McAfee, which informed us that SiteAdvisor automatically tests sites for pop-ups, malware, and fraud. The system also fills in forms and monitors any spam received as a result. Site administrators like Gibson who feel that their sites shouldn't be subject to a warning can alert the SiteAdvisor rating team at www.siteadvisor.com/feedback or send e-mail to complaints@siteadvisor.com.

Gibson has contacted McAfee; however, she may have to wait a few weeks before the warning is removed. SiteAdvisor retests sites to ensure that they have changed, but those that have received a negative rating must stay clean over time to get the rating overturned.

Amber Bouman is an editorial assistant for PC World. You can send her an e-mail at onyourside@pcworld.com. Read previously published On Your Side columns.