After running norton antivirus sweeper on my computer, it found a
program called "remote aim (RAIM)"  I looked it up and it is a program
from them company sniip3.com that allows people to view your aim
conversations from a remote computer.  Is this product something that
incidently got downloaded as a virus or did a "friend" who has access
to my computer download this to spy on me?

I guess someone is trying to snoop on your AIM conversations. AFAIK
RAIM doesn't come as payload with an worm or virus.

HTH

--arky

Type	Remote Control Tool
Type Description	A Remote Control Tool is a network application that
allows users to manage and control PCs or networks from a remote
location.
Category	RAT
Category Description	A RAT is a Remote Administration Tool that gives
an attacker the means to manipulate and control a target machine from
a remote location over the internet. A RAT gives the attacker full
control of the compromised machine and is used for malicious purposes.
RATs typically consist of two components: a server application that
resides on the target machine and responds to remote commands; a
client application that is used by the attacker to control and
configure the server applications on compromised machines.
Level	Elevated
Level Description	Elevated threats are typically installed without
adequate notice and consent, and may make unwanted changes to your
system, such as reconfiguring your browser?s homepage and search
settings. These threats may install advertising-related add-ons,
including toolbars and search bars, or insert advertising-related
components into the Winsock Layered Service Provider chain. These new
add-ons and components may block or redirect your preferred network
connections, and can negatively impact your computer?s performance and
stability. Elevated threats may also collect, transmit, and share
potentially sensitive data without adequate notice and consent.
Advice Type	Remove
Description	With Remote Aim ( Raim ) you can spy on your friends
without them knowing anything.
Add. Description	Raim works with Aim, it grabs all the incoming and
outgoing data sent to / from user's Aim Client, and if you are
connected to Raim server, you will receive all that data. Here's what
you can do: IMSpy, allows you to see their conversations, ChatSpy,
same
Author	sniip3r
Author URL	sniip3r.com
File Traces	 
 	Raim Client.exe
 	RAIM Server Creator.exe
 	server.exe


You should take a look at when it was downloaded to your computer
(Browser history) or when it was installed (View Folder with details)
... perhaps that will let you know who did this!

RAIM< is a spy software, but this is not a spyware which can get
installed on a pc from internet, during casual browsing or installing
free softwares

this software is installed using a user acount on the system,helps
relay conversations, data transfer details, mails, to the person who
is using it.
and specific configuration has to be done so that the desired person
can get this information..

SO Michelle, you have some one familiar, using your system, one who
can comfortably install a software (spy software) on your system
without you noticing it...  i think you can narrow down now on to the
culprit