Antivirus / Antispyware tool recommendation?

I've read some really long threads about suggested antivirus and antispyware programs, some of which date back a long time, and was wondering what is CURRENTLY the favorite program (of these, or ones I haven't mentioned). My PCs are older so I need to use programs that don't take too much resources. I'm using XP Pro and XP Home.

Here is what I have used recently:
Cox High Speed Internet Security Software
(I think this is based on a program from Authentium. I started using it when I got the Cox service; as far as detecting spyware it blows the others away in that it also stops ad-supported programs and blocks tracking cookies and certain ad cookies. Unfortunately it's a huge resource hog and interferes with Firefox. The antivirus isn't my favorite as it seems really limited although updates are available very often.)

AVG AntiVirus
(I used this before I got Cox; it performed very well for a free program but I always wondered how strong the protection was compared to paid programs. I never encountered a virus during the year I was running AVG so it never was really put to the test.)

Spybot S&D
(Didn't detect tracking cookies like Cox, but otherwise seemed to catch most spyware. I never could tell how much it detected and how much was running undetected on my system, though.)

Adaware
(I uninstalled this as it seemed to detect fewer spy and ad programs than other products, hogged resources, and seemed to want me to upgrade it to a premium version for more features.)

Norton products
(Too expensive and too much RAM and CPU usage; will not consider using again.)

Avast AntiVirus
(Interface seemed complicated while on the other hand the software lacked some features. Did not feel like I was fully protected from viruses.)

 

Speaking purely for myself:

- AVG free version does fine for me as my AV protection. It catches what is thrown.

- The new Microsoft beta Antispyware app has done well by me. No idea of the system load but doesn't seem like anything excessive. I have it running from startup and haven't noticed any performance issues.

- I have spywareblaster loaded and up to date. It's passive protection for the most part and no system load I can detect.

- I have spyware search & destroy loaded with immunize turned on but truthfully, I haven't updated it recently and since the last dozen runs of it and Ad-aware didn't find critters (I think the M$ app stopped them) I've pretty much quit even running either of them to scan/clean.

- XP SP2 has all the firewall I need when combined with the NAT function of my router.

There are folks on here who insist on a 2 way firewall (blocking inbound and outbound packets) and they can make a good argument for their choice but I just don't feel the need for myself.

 

Also speaking purely for myself...
AVG free version has always done well by me, too.
Based on someone's recommendation here last year, I installed AdAware, Spybot Search and Destroy, Spyware Blaster, Spyware Guard, and Zone Alarm (free) firewall.
I question the efficacy of Spyware Guard (passive protection), as I only recall one or two updates for that in the last 5 months - on the other hand, I haven't had any problem at all with spyware, and my computer doesn't seem to be running any slower because of it's presence, so I'm leaving well enough alone.
Spyware Blaster, on the other hand, has regular updates, so I think this is probably the program that's making the real difference (it's also passive protection, like Newt said): neither AdAware nor Spybot S&D scans have turned up anything on my computer in recent months, and I've been online and downloading more than ever in the past.
I know I still don't fully appreciate the function of firewalls, but given that Zone Alarm has blocked 4000+ intrusions on my computer since I installed it, it's obviously working its butt off for me. But ZA, I think, uses more resources than the others.

 

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like AVG is a winner so I'll go back to that. It's a plus that Cox provides security software for members who might not think to install their own, but after working with their tech support over a conflict between their software and Firefox I think I know more about computers than their technicians!

I haven't heard much about the Microsoft antispyware program. I tried to download it and learned my system wasn't genuine so I am waiting for my GENUINE licensed official hologram CD with COA.
Memo: be suspicious of XP for $45-60 on eBay or Yahoo!

Sounds like Spybot S&D and Adaware both have lost their edge.

Is Spyware Blaster freeware? I haven't heard of it before but it sounds like it is good.

Should I be installing a firewall package? I already have both a hardware firewall in my router and the XP firewall on.

 

Yes, Spyware Blaster is freeware (http://majorgeeks.com/download2859.html).
I don't know that AdAware and Spybot S&D have necessarily lost their edge - you still see them being recommended all the time whenever there's a suspicion of spyware on someone's computer. Maybe it's just that Spyware Blaster is so thorough in preventing spyware infection (3356 items in its database) that there's nothing for AdAware and Spybot S&D to track down any more?
Someone else will have to advise you about firewalls - I simply don't know enough about them (but if you do decide to go with one, I really like Zone Alarm free. Haven't tried anything else either, though, to be perfectly honest!).

 

Hardware firewall (if it is a real one and not just NAT being advertised as a firewall) should be fine. XP's firewall with SP2 is excellent. Earlier versions aren't much good. If your software flagged as bogus when you tried to load the M$ anti-spyware app, I'm guessing you are still at the original XP or maybe SP1 though and probably just the original.

Spybot & Ad-aware are still very good at what they do and still being kept up to date. For me it was simply a matter of not needing their services with the combo of spywareblaster and the Giant app that Microsoft has just bought and is testing.