The diffrencies between XP and w98 are huge!
w98 is like trying to drive a car with the parking brake on compared to xp. The only "feature" w98 has is the blue screen of death.
1. As mentoned above, get "spybots - search and destroy".
You can try another one if you want to, but i wouldnt recommend it. Spyware removers often get you you more spyware - just like a trojan horse. Thats what i would call a "real" trojan.
Spybots 1.3, by the way, has got resident protection! not a single byte in the registry can be changed without your authorization.
2. Use Mozilla Firefox as your default browser. My god, i cant start to tell you how much crap get into your computer by using internet explorer and the like.
3.I usually check my mail at a website, to avoid getting it "into" my computer. As a rule of thumb - you got email reading software, use antivirus. I can recommend avast, which is free of charge, under the condition that use register the product at their website.
www.avast.com4. Firewall. I actually use the built in xp firewall, but im also on dial-up. Using broadband i woulkd recommend a hardware firewall. The software firewalls just suck your mhz out of your pezee.
As simple as that you say? yes sir!
Seriously, i never have any problems with my computer, so i guess that means i know what im talking about....
