I don't have Spam. I don't have Spyware. I don't get viruses. I don't get obnoxious or offensive email. I've run Norton once a week since I bought this computer and subscribed to Earthlink. That was in April. Norton has never found a thing. Zip. Zero. Nada. My internet service is clean as a whistle. Earthlink is a fabulous service.
You don't have kids who get on the computer and install spyware every time you turn your back. But innoculating with Spybot, Spyware Blaster, and Spyware Guard have blocked most of it. When they go to reinstall Kazaa or the latest thing their friends have told them about, my computer won't let them do it.
I had 2 virus installed in my computer with Norton...Pestpatrol found and eliminated them.