Stopping Ad-ware

[yakubu]

Hi, today my computer has been opening up internet explorer of its own accord trying to get me to download various things (note i haven't downloaded any of them!), symantec anti-virus is quarintining (sp!?) them but how best to stop them in first place?
Oh, and haven't been on any "naughty" sites today so not sure where they are coming from in the 1st place!!

[Tripps]

AdAware I've found is pretty effective at stopping them I've found.

[thepassenger]

A combination of SpyWare/Malware program is often the best best. Neither of the two most popular ones catch everything on their own.

SpyBot Search & Destroy
AdAware

Grab and install them both, let them update themselves and then run one after the other.

[Platinum]

Windows Defender aswell. (Although I have noticed people posting on here always say to have a solid install of windows before installing it.)