windows problems

Invest in good antivirus and spyware protection software! I would recommend McAfee for anti virus and either Pest Patrol, Adaware or the new Microsoft antispyware beta. All of these products will scan and remove most nasties, but the best way to avoid being infected is just use common sense. Never download activex controls from sites you dont know, never open email attachments from people you dont know......you know the drill :-)

1. Make sure to run an antispyware application. Perform on-demand scans regularly to root out spyware that slips through the cracks. Reboot after removal and rescan to make sure no ticklers, which are designed to reinstall spyware, have resurrected any deleted apps. Additionally, even though we are not overly impressed with any app's real-time blocking abilities, activate whatever your app of choice offers; it's nearly always better than nothing.

2. Give your antispyware some backup. In addition to an antispyware app, make sure to run both software and hardware firewalls and antivirus applications to protect yourself against Trojan horses (and viruses, naturally).

3. Beware of peer-to-peer file-sharing services. Many of the most popular applications include spyware in their installation procedures (see the sidebar "Spyware-Free P2P?for Free"). Also, never download any executables via P2P, because you can't be absolutely certain what they are. Actually, it's a good idea to avoid downloading executables from anywhere but vendors or major, well-checked sites.

4. Watch out for cookies. While they may not be the worst form of spyware, information gathered via cookies can sometimes be matched with information gathered elsewhere (via Web bugs, for example) to provide surprisingly detailed profiles of you and your browsing habits. PC Magazine's own Cookie Cop 2 (www.pcmag.com/utilities) can help you take control of cookies.

5. Squash bugs. Web bugs are spies that are activated when you open contaminated HTML e-mail. Get rid of unsolicited e-mail without reading it when you can; turn off the preview pane to delete messages without opening them. In Outlook 2003, Tools | Options, click on the Security tab and select Change Automatic Download Settings. Make sure Don't download pictures or other content automatically in HTML e-mail is checked.

6. Don't install anything without knowing exactly what it is. This means reading the end-user license agre

If you have no budget then a few good FREE programs exist.

AVG for Virus Scanning ( includes FREE updates )
Sygate Personal Firewall, Kerio or Zone Alarm all FREE ( with some features disabled from the full versions )

and

Adaware for Adware FREE includes updates.

To completely avoid, turn PC off. Truthfully.
If you really want to use it, prevention with running programs are best. Read their docs on how to use them and update them. All these are FREE.

ONLINE VIRUS CHECKS, no software install required other than an Active X component if required (some do removals):
Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=QQWRORVWHFHMFNZMBBX
BitDefender
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/licence.php
Panda ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm
Trend Micro Online Virus Scan
http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
Trend Micro Housecall
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Virus Threat Center Blog
http://virusthreatcenter.com/?tag=zd.ft.fs.vtc
McAfee Virus Removal Tools
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=vrt

ONLINE SPYWARE CHECKS
ZoneAlarm Spyware Check
http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/index3.html

REFERANCE
http://www.download.com/spyware-center/2001-2023-0.html?tag=note

ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE (again all FREE)
Free avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.asw.cz/eng/avast_4_home.html
AVG FREE
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php
AntiVir? PersonalEdition Classic
http://www.free-av.com/index.htm
BitDefender Free Edition v7
http://www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/products.php?p_id=24

You arent really going to be able to stop adware.
As for the free antivirus programs listed there are a few others to chooses from. You could try avast! antivirus which has a free version and a professional version.