Fear of spyware changing Internet mores

I admit that I download very little, but I'm still paranoid enough to run Ad-Aware on my system 2 times a week. It's a huge problem and I refuse to let my machine become a zombie.

I download an awful lot of music files for personal use through Ares P2P software. Even though I run Adaware, Spybot and a full virus scan 2-3 times a week (Norton and AVG) I've experienced no problems with spyware, ad-ware or viruses. Have I just been lucky so far?

The big problem has more to do with freeware and accepting licenses without reading them, in my opinion.

I agree. A lot of the license agreements contain clauses that allow automatic downloads of targeted adware/spyware invisibly. Cosequently, ad hoc acceptance of these agreements can cause heaps of stuff to end up on your system without you being aware of it until your inbox fills up with spam!!!

Spam doesn't bother me, I have good spam filtering. It's the Malware that I worry about. Like I said I don't want my machine turned into a spamming zombie.

I have had one or two cases of malware, but the Spybot and Adaware seems to take care of it. Is it a common thing to have your PC taken over? I don't know