I am just curious as to what you guys think is better? Ad-aware or Spybot.

Iv only used Adaware...and that seems to be CFH and TSS' recomendation.

I use both, I wrote a batch file that runs both back to back, just schedule it to run at 3am or something.

thats a good idea RED...

Or just schedule yourself not to use IE.

I don't really see how IE is related to Ad-Aware of Spybot...

Perhaps that's just me...

IE security holes sometimes allow spyware/adware to install itself without asking.

True, but even when using something like Mozilla, its good to check for leeching software every now and then...especially if you download software alot, or use file sharing much.

Ad-aware also detects & removes "data mining" cookies, i.e. cookies which store information about which pages you visit, how often etc - information which is sold to other companies. So you might want to run ad-aware even when using mozilla (unless you clear your cookies frequently anyway).

You could schedule Mozilla to make cookies clear after each session. (see Psion's comment about not using IE)

The problem isn't in IE or cookies, it's is in software you install, lots of software automatically installs invisible spyware or adware programs. These programs run undetectable in the background and use system resources, slowing the host computer to a crawl. Data mining cookies don't do that, I could have a hundred of these cookies and not care, I don't care if some company knows about the sites I visit.

That's why you might want to act like many do and only install open source software produced by trustworthy people.

I never said I had a problem with spyware, but it can't hurt to check for it anyway