Best way to have a "spyware-free" system?

[Zucarita9000]

I really don't like to have dozens of apps that do the same thing in my system, but with spyware you never know.

Right now, I have a combination of Spybot, SpywareBlaster, Adaware and PestPatrol. There are, however, several other apps available and I was wondering if I was missing an important one.

I'd like to get a sense of which applications is everyone using around here to keep their systems clean.

 

[Bucksnort]

I have a combination of Spybot, SpywareBlaster, Adaware

 

[gistech1978]

i use hijack this! also.
it doesnt fix anything on its own, but lists alot of stuff that runs when your OS or IE loads.

 

[TheWart]

check the sticky at the top of this forum for a comprehensive list of tools to combat spyware. lots of user recommendations in there too.

 

[CindySue22]

Use Firefox as browser instead of IE, for a starter.

 

[duragezic]

Just don't click OK/YES when something comes up that wants to be installed. Stay off the shady websites. All I use is Ad-aware once a month or so and it picks up a few things. I always know what processes should be running and which ones are prolly spyware (no need for a program really, just shut them down, and delete).

 

[cyberphant0m]

if you like to browse the warez/cracks/serial key/hacker/porn sites then you wil almost undoubtedly become infected with spyware if you're lucky. if you're unlucky, you will get a virus, trojan, or something really nasty... you may turn on your computer one day, to find that a bunch of porn dialers have been added to your system's startup folder...

 

[Zucarita9000]

Actually, I read this guide a while back and it was very handy. Not only the apps removed a lot of spyware, but also made IE a lot more stable and responsive. I'm pretty sure I'm spyware free, as I run scanners every week or so. I was just wondering if I was missing something important.