it should be safe to remove, my system's runnin fine without it...
taken from SpyBot - Search & Destroy :
ALEXA
Functionality
Internet Explorer toolbar providing additional information and related links about visited websites.
Description
The privacy statement says it all. They are storing quite a lot information, including personal data like accounts (if account data is used in URL). They give other companies access to their databases; those may only use the data to what it was retained for. The statements says what the data was retained for, but doesn't give exlusions what it isn't retained for.
Privacy Statement
ALEXA COLLECTS AND STORES INFORMATION ABOUT THE WEB PAGES YOU VIEW, THE DATA YOU ENTER IN ONLINE FORMS AND SEARCH FIELDS WHILE USING THE ALEXA SOFTWARE, AND, WITH VERSIONS 5.0 AND HIGHER OF THE BROWSER COMPANION SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS YOU PURCHASE ONLINE. ALTHOUGH ALEXA DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO ANALYZE WEB USAGE DATA TO DETERMINE THE IDENTITY OF ANY ALEXA USER, SOME INFORMATION COLLECTED BY THE SOFTWARE IS PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE. ALEXA AGGREGATES AND ANALYZES THE INFORMATION IT COLLECTS TO IMPROVE ITS SERVICE AND TO PREPARE REPORTS ABOUT AGGREGATE WEB USAGE AND SHOPPING HABITS.
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We employ other companies and individuals to perform functions on our behalf, such as technical support services. To perform those functions, it may be necessary for them to obtain access to Alexa’s databases and servers, which may contain personally identifying information about users. They may not use such access or information for any purpose other than that for which they are retained