Spybot Search and Destroy is a great program...removes spyware that is frequently overlooked by Ad-Aware. be sure to update the defs at least once a week...of course. I'm using Red Hat 8 now, and as a noob, I can still see the benefits of switching from M$. it's much cooler!
just be sure to read privacy policies when you're installing all this great freeware...sometimes it's free because you're actually opening yourself up to being monitored and/or tracked when your computer is logged into the Internet...exactly what Spybot destroys...be sure to read the help files, then delete anything in red!
I got rid of over 259 spyware programs from my machine last month!
have fun! ~Branson