I used AVG and had no problems with it. I switched to AntiVir to standardize. Both are about the same in terms of ease of use I'd say--pretty much just install and download updates. http://www.free-av.com/ I used to use SpyBot and AdAware but I've settled on the Microsoft AS beta. It works really well and does everything I need in that department. I used the trial before Microsoft bought the company and it was the only thing that cleaned a nasty hijacker. I don't know when the beta will be over. Hopefully they will leave it as a free product.

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken