No more spyware/adware?

In recent years I've always used AdAware & Spybot to scan and remove spyware, etc. Threats were always found by the scans. Over a month ago, however, I changed my browser and email client to Mozillas's Firefox and Thunderbird, and installed Microsoft's AntiSpyware. Since then I've not had AdAware or Spybot find any threats after scanning. Would this be because of Mozilla's browser/email programmes or because of Microsoft's Antispyware? I'm not complaining, but am just wondering who to give the credit to Thank you.

 

give the crdit to mozilla. firefox's security features dont let spyware into your computer.

 

Thanks, Tr. That's good to know. I prefer IE/OE but will stay with Firefox/Thunderbird if that's a more secure option.

 

Lugwalker--The only real security difference between IE and FF is that the former allows you to use ActiveX. Certain sites require that such as Windows Update. However, you do not have to run ActiveX controls if you do not want to. You can set your "Run Active X" settings in IE Tools|Internet Options|Security tab|Custom Level to Disable, put sites you trust (like Windows Updates) into your Trusted Sites (which allows ActiveX controls to run on those sites only) and have the same security you have in FF.
IE also offers many other Security features on the Privacy tab and on the Security tab|Restricted Sites.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ie/reskit/6/part2/c04ie6rk.mspx

 

So if I disable activex controls in IE I can have an equally safe browser. Excellent! Can I make OE as safe as Thunderbird also? Thank you, Jim.

 

That is a false assumption. Firefox is no more secure than any other browser. Malware can and will install on a PC when using Firefox. I can show you many HijackThis logs where the individual strictly used Firefox and was overrun with malware.

 

Lugwalker--That is the way I understand it.
In IE Tools|Internet Options|Security tab|Custom Level disable "Run Active X controls and plugins" and anything having to do with unsigned matters. And do not overlook the settings on the Privacy tab.
Of course you also want to run a firewall (like just plain ZoneAlarm (free) in the left margin)
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products
and SpywareBlaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
P.S. The idea that FF/Mozilla was safer started when it represented a very small share of the Browser market and was not worth much effort from the hackers and spyware developers. Now that the numbers using FF/M has increased, they are getting the same attention from the "baddies ", and may not be as quick to offer fixes.

You may also want to read this reference
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial102.html

 

Aha! The situation becomes clearer now. Thanks for all the information, folks. I can now make an informed decision