I find it helps to empty Temporary Internet Files at the end of each day, after you close your browser. With IE on XP I do it as follows-
Open 'Settings' in Internet Options (Tools/Internet options/General/Settings) Then click on 'View Files'
Delete all those suckers- clicking on 'Delete Files' in General doesn't get rid of all of them.
Then do an Ad Aware scan each day or so, & a Spybot once a week. Both are free programs.
Make sure you've got an Antivirus- & do a full scan once a week or so.
Check out AVG Antivirus for a free one- http://www.klitetools.com/index.php?...=news&catid=45
A firewall is essential.
Don't forget the trusty Defrag once a month or so & empty the recycle bin once in a while.
People say I'm paranoid about security, but those people have a heck of a lot more downtime than I do!
Tojo