Can another program initiate a google search on a computer?

I can make Microsoft Excel perform such a task using code. However, if
you feel that you have spyware that is initiating Google searches, it
is unlikely that any spyware is specifically doing that. However, many
spyware will *hijack* your browser, change your *home* page, and
basically take over, giving popups and all kinds of other
undesireables. If you suspect you have spyware, I suggest you join
http://forums.techguy.org and post your question in the security forum
there. You will see instructions on how to download and use a program
called "hijack this", and then post that information so the security
experts at Tech Support Guy can help you get to the bottom of the
problem. Tech Support Guy is a free technical support forum, and the
do NOT share your personal information. I have been a member for about
7 years. Good luck to you!

Agreed, it sounds like you may be the victim of a browser hijack. This
can usually be cleaned easily by using an anti-spyware or anti-adware
program such as Spybot or Ad-Aware, both freeware. I use both
periodically to stay safe.
<b>
Spybot 1.3: http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10122137.html
Ad-Aware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
<b>
Regards,
Nivek

Ad-aware and Spybot are both excellent tools. If it keeps giving you
trouble after running those, it's likely a CoolWebSearch variant.
They've repeated messed with Google pages, replacing links and
redirecting to other search engines. Even the leading researcher in
dealing with these, a IS Major from the Netherlands, can't keep up. He
just recently said he cannot keep up with the latest strands, which
are much worse than the old ones. Still, is site is a great resource.

More info on CWS variants is at:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Also, you can get a tool to eliminate most CWS variants, called
CWShredder, from this page on his site:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe

Hope this helps....
Shawn