PowerStrip is a BHO (browser helper object) that installs itself as a toolbar in Microsoft Internet Explorer.  It plays itself off as an object that will help you with your searches and let you keep up with your email and the latests news.

The real purpose of Power Strip, however, is to steal affiliate commissions.  When you visit a merchant website, it will replace the ID of the person who sent you there with another ID.  In other words, it steals a sales commission from one person and gives it to another.

This in itself may not be much of a concern for you.  PowerStrip also downloads updates for itself, which may slow down your computer and eat up your Internet connection bandwidth.  It may also hijack your searches and change Internet Explorer settings by way of link buttons and new bookmarks.

PowerStrip usually comes bundled with other software.  Finding it on your computer means you likely have other adware as well.