spyware & adware destroying my computer

Recently my computer started acting up. For no reason it shuts down unexpectedly. I thought there was a virus but the antivirus didn't detect any viruses on my computer maybe is hidden. I really need your help what programs can I use or buy in order to protect from all viruses, spyware, adware, hacker you name it.  Any suggestion of how to stop these? I'm concern about security and privacy when surfing the Internet.  Need guidance. thanks

[R.I.P.]

teck2k.....perhaps you could give us a little more info....like what O/S are you running , what kind of Anti virus are you using..Are all your patches and updates
current and how often is your puter shutting down ? On regular time intervals or just random? Has it been doing anything else that is unusual?

Let us know,

dl65

I am running Windows ME and using 2002 norton antivirus and downloaded the most recent patches and updates. The computer shutsdown Ramdonly right in the middle of my Work. I thought that there could be a virus but the problem is the antivirus didn't detect anything.
The computer's performance is so sluggish. I getting so fed ud with system. Might as well wipe out the hard drive and start all over again.

[R.I.P.]

Hi tech2K....Is your NAV 2002 current check your subscription date on the status page .....the latest virus definitions were dated 05/05/2004 Read th following...
Reminiscent of last summer's Lovsan/MS Blaster worm, W32/Sasser.worm.a and W32/Sasser.worm.b are Medium Risk Internet worms that exploit a vulnerability in the Microsoft Windows operating system, especially 2000 and XP.
The sasser worm will do exactly as you describe.
When your looking at the sasser info  run the test from that page and see if your Norton AV  activates a warning for you when you download the "TEST page"

Hope this helps you,

dl65  

[R.I.P.]

Hi teck2K.....ooops I fouled up the last post .......go to
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=description&virus_k=125007&cid=10152  

this should work.

dl65  

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Check that out.  Meant to stop spyware getting on your comp in the first place.

Have to clean it up first of course.

If it is not a virus or spyware you might want to take a look at your power supply.  It may be on the brink of dying.  

download adaware and spybot, they will wipe out most of the spyware, you can find the links at www.spywareinfo.com

ok to run winme and any other pc here is what i recomend people should DONT UPDATE ANYTHING FROM M$OFT <which includes wmp9 ie6 sp1> disable updates it was ok before when i first got it? i hear you say next stop paying for software loads of free stuff out there just what watch what you are downloading?<spyware=grief>next a firewall from sygate and antivir from majorgeeks and  skin you pc ...maybe later on this...this pc has been runing fault free for four years and not an update insight...after all any download from m$oft can fail and so does your pc with it...and the biggest place virus lurk is system restore...disable it...