There is no ideal way of securing a computer from spyware threats.
There is no end to the number of spyware programs on the internet.
They exploit every possible loophole in firewall programs and web browsers to install themselves on host machines.
In most cases, users can't do anything but haplessly watch whatever is happening to their machines.
In order to deter spyware, users need to do certain other things in addition to getting antispyware installed on their machines.
Change Your Web Browser Do you know that the Internet Explorer carries with it, a greater risk of infection from spywares owing to its extensive user base and other vulnerabilities like Active X? In order to counter this, many web browsers install other web browsers as well.
Some of the lesser known ones are Opera, Mozilla Fire Fox and Google Chrome.
Using Web Proxies and Network Firewalls Some organisations, especially colleges and universities are employing a different approach to counter spyware.
Along with using antispyware software, most of them are making use of their web proxies andnetwork firewalls to block websites that are known for spyware infections, along with other suspected sites.
Hosts File A number of users make use of large 'hosts file' that may prevent the computer from establishing connection with known spyware related web addresses.
Spyware software though, has found a loophole in this arrangement as well.
Instead of connecting to the domain name, the spyware connects itself to the IP address thereby bypassing this kind of arrangement.
Downloading from Trusted Sources Malicious software may get installed though a number of shareware programs as well that are frequently offered for download.
Along with using spyware blockers, is a good way to increase protection against spyware in order to download content from the reputed sources only.
Removing Spyware from your Computer System Lockdown A state of system lockdown can be achieved in a number of ways such as:

1. Using good-quality anti-virus software.
   
2. Disconnecting your computer from the network.
   Disconnecting your computer from the network will inhibit spyware controllers from gaining remote access to your computer.
   

Using an Antispyware After you've disconnected your machine from the internet, the next step would be to locate it on your computer and remove it manually, if possible.
Another good way to go about doing it is to make use of good ant-spyware software.
After you've treated your machine of all infections, you may go online but remember not to deal with potentially threatening websites.
Taking a birds-eye view of the situation, you'll clearly be able to see what this is all about: You buy a computer, computer gets infected with spyware, spyware authors pay software to infect your computer and the same software comes up with antispyware programs you need to buy in order to keep your machine clean.
It's a thoroughly planned industry, an industry you can neither live with, nor live without!