I can not stress enough the importance of a good Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware software and watching just what the hell you are downloading. My best friend is right now learning a very valuable lesson in this as I am trying to fix her computer and so far, all efforts have been in vain.
She has a good Anti-Virus and a good Anti-Spyware on her computer. But when she was trying to remember where she got them so she could install them on her mom’s computer, she downloaded one that was named similarly but was, in fact, a virus itself. It won’t let her uninstall it, and now I’m trying to see if any of the removal tools that the internet suggests (Spyware Doctor) will get rid of it. I’m hoping for her sake it does, since she has a lot of files and whatnot on her computer that I’d hate to see her lose if I have to do a system restore on it. 
For the record, my favorite free Anti-Virus program by far is AVG Free Edition. You can get it on CNet.com and Download.com. It provides good protection and updates itself daily. Also, check with your ISP. Many of them provide free security software. Road Runner offers Computer Associates Internet Security Suite and AOL provides McAfee free to their customers. If you have an AOL screen name you can get McAfee from AOL. And it’s FREE. Both of them also update regularly. The version of McAfee AOL provides does not, however, contain Anti-Spyware. The free version of CA ISS that Road Runner provides does contain Anti-Spyware.
A good free Anti-Spyware is Adaware from LavaSoft, also available at Cnet.com and Download.com. Please, if you are doing a lot of downloading or are surfing the internet unprotected, go to CNet.com and Download.com and get protected!
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