[Lunatic Fringe]

First of all, nothing can be INSTALLED on your computer unless you say yes to something. Granted, some of these are tricky, like Gator. Whether you click yes or no, it installes. The best way to avoid Gator is to click the "X" on the window, and not answer the question it shows.

Second, ADAWARE will flag cookies as spyware. Can you tell us what ADAWARE flagged?

[LasVegasMac]

First of all, nothing can be INSTALLED on your computer unless you say yes to something.

Ah, to be young (old ?) and naive again. You are, of course, mistaken in that bold statement.

Lots of stuff gets installed, if you are not careful.

LVM

[Cold Heat]

First of all, nothing can be INSTALLED on your computer unless you say yes to something.

Not entirely true!

Not everyone uses protection like Zone and popup blockers. The spyware piggybacks in with the gif's and other images. They can put in redirects and all kinds of crap to irritate the hell out of you.