Just wondering what everyone is using for spyware, protection etc... I usually use adaware but heard it wasnt as good as it used to be.
Also how important is antivirus I Just dont like how it starts 4 serivces and everything seems laggy. I'll probably get a brick thrown at my head.

Spyware- Spybot search and destroy
Antivirus- AVG

I would say its very important to have antivirus and other protection... why? Well these days so much can get through so easily... I am quite a safe and web-smart person so it is hard for me to get tricked into downloading bad files... But it happens to other people. My friend tried to send me something a little bit risky (a keylogger of all things) and thankfully my antivirus destroyed it within about a second of it landing in my recieved files.

It is well worth having, and especially if it isnt a bloated program coughNORTONcough then its just hidden protection.

I use, Avira and AVG for anti-virus, (not on the same machine) Spyware Blaster 3.51, Spybot S&D, AND Ad-Aware SE on all for spyware protection (each work differently, and one might pick up on something the others may miss), and Zone Alarm for a firewall. (All freeware) Even though Windows XP sp2 has a firewall already, (a pretty good one too), I like to be able to see and control my network traffic. Zone Alarm is good for that. I have yet to have a serious security related issue.

It seems like most people like AVG instead of Avast, I currently have nothing at all installed but looking into adding something Thanks for the response.