Edited: I use ZoneAlarm, Avast antivirus, Spybot and Ad-Aware. Two virus's detected on incoming emails in the past year, never infected. Always search for a new program in Google (or preferred search engine!) and base your info on a semi-respected source (this time symantec)
Worry about the rootkit stuff, the adware is tame compared to the new rootkit stuff. The paypal phishing stuff is so sophisticated now that the only way you can tell if its a fake is if contains links or you forward it to spoof.paypal.com. They will reply weather it's fake or real.
JJK
Here's something I ran across yesterday. It says that virus writers are getting so good at their craft that they are fine-tuning their malware to tiptoe around the antivirus programs from the big boys like Symantec. The article suggests that a less-well-known antivirus utility will catch more viri these days.
As for spyware, I've read positive reviews for Webroot's SpySweeper.
2. Disable active-X and Scripting in IE 6.0 and live with the inconvenience and lack of media ability
3. Use Firefox for the bells and whistles and never enter sensitive information using Firefox, only your crippled Internet Explorer browser. Install the Firefox extension "ad blocker".
4. Use Zone Alarm Free for a basic firewall but not the newer versions. Use 5.5.094
5. Do not have an active anti-virus to cripple your computer. Use on-demand anti-virus scanners that only run when you execute them. If you run them one at a time and use MANUAL updates instead of automatic updates they will not crash each other and your computer. An example would be anti-vir or avg-free. A better one is Eset Nod 32.
I run Adaware and Spybot something like once a month (followed by Tweaknow Regcleaner and a defrag). For anti-virus I use AVG free version. So far so good.
Ad-Aware! What a very professional piece of s/w. Very quick and even I can use it.
I did like the way it just "farted" at me when it found something!! Actually I looked around behind me! AND at the moment I'm the only one in my office - or I thought I was . . . the only one around!!
You set it up to warn you or to block certain groups of sites and 'spyware/adware' is one of those groups. Completely configurable and I didn't notice a performance hit like I have in the past with other filters.