That's the thing. Most users have spyware problems because they are still using Internet Explorer. Even with the minor tweaks to help prevent spyware infections are not working perfectly. Scripts run in the background and something else is installed. An alternative browser like Mozilla Firefox or even Opera would be a better alternative as some mentioned earlier.

You can never be safe using IE since it's being targetted the most. You must get all the latest patches and even then you're still vulnerable.

If you have a good antivirus, firewall and antispyware program, I would say that you are 99% safer already. Each has their own purpose to keeping your computer safe and although none are perfect, they will be very useful in detering most of these infections.

rantsh, the antispyware program that Microsoft has is Microsoft AntiSpyware. I don't recommend users to use this program anymore as they seem to made an agreement with a spyware/adware company. Now instead of setting those spyware/adware related files to remove/delete, it's set to Ignore in the Microsoft AntiSpyware program...which is not what we want since we want them gone. Install and run it if you wish, but I say use Ad-aware and Spybot since those two will basically catch most of the known ones out there.

KAV 2006 pre beta is probabaly best AV ever made.
I am sure you guys have seen it.
It detects the following
>AdWare
>SpyWare
>Porn Dialers
and more

I use Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D, the combo works pretty well. I almost never get spyware anymore (not using IE helps a ton too!). I also use ZoneAlarm for firewall (in addition to the hardware firewall), so even if my comp got infected, it wouldn't be able to connect to the internet (without permission.)

I love Spybot and Blaster, but Ad-aware is still needed. (you need multiple instances to remove the most of the **** you have on your computer.)

I wish I could do the same with Anti-Virus.. but they conflict..
If you find odd files on your harddrives and your AV / Spyware programs can't find anything.
Try this link out, you upload a file, and it checks it with multiple programs. Really useful if you get some kind of new virus.

http://www.virustotal.com/flash/index_en.html

Alright
So
Today I finally realize that my computer is horribly unprotected and probably not gonna last much longer... UNLESS

I've downloaded many of the things that have been mentioned on this page here
So basically, I hope they're all good recommendations, I've only downloaded the ones which people seem to agree as good things to use

For a beta version, Microsoft's ANti-Spyware is very good. I especially like the resident blocker. Also it's abiloity to restore hijacked home pages and the default IE settings is useful at times. I remember that one of my younger brothers had accidentally and unknowingly agreed to install some software which promised him additional smileys for his MSN messenger. Of course, along with that, it also hijacked my personalised search page, start page and kept trying to contact its home server. Being a Firefox user myself, I didn't realise at the time that something wasn't right. It was only later when I had problems running the Norton Antivirus interface (it uses the Internet Explorer engine to render) that I suspected all wasn't well in the land of IE. I immediately restored the settings from within MS AntiSpyware and all was well.

trust me try microsoft anti-spyware its only in Beta right now, I mean i hate MS as much as the next guy but this software is really good not only is it free its terrrific hopefully they wont start charging for the final version reasons why its so good is that it warns when changes are being made to your registry due to spyware altering it its really cool and wouldnt trade it for anything

I use Ad-ware as a spyware remover, KERIO PERSONAL FIREWALL as a firewall and Dr. WEB as Antivirus program

Lava soft has been buckling under threats of lawsuits, it's a decent product but you need to use others as well. www.webattack.com has a freware section on anti-spyware. go check them out. There is no 1 perfect program here

Why use more thant one spyaware program?
At the moment I use Ad-Adware SE Professional with Ad-Watch. Ad-Watch monitoring the system and protect him.
It's cheap, very complete and very light to the system.