I am no fan of windows or microBrog. but I have to have windows 2000 to run AE and get online. a friend of mine (basically an IT guy) suggested using zonealarm and I've had version 3.1.395 all this past year. I have it set up to allow NOTHING to go in or out without my permission.
That is easily done in the GUI.
I never use Outlook or any other mail program. And I use Opera.
I have never had a virus, and I am paranoid about installing ANYTHING on my system.
I also use
SpyBot. I used it to remove about 14 cookies (which were not dangerous, just dumb) and have not had any new ones since.
If one is careful, then one is as safe as possible. needless to say i never open mail attachments. they stay on the servers and get deleted there.
thanks for the link, mike. :-)