MegaCool wroteSoftware section?
My opinion, learn to avoid using antivirus softwares. I myself quit installing them long ago, and my OS never gets exploited. It's just stupid to open an unknown exe file with a size of ~40KB. Yeah you kinda learn that with experience.
Indeed. That's what every geek should do.
Opening infected exe files, installing all the available toolbars in your browser, adding weird emoticons to your msn and clicking every single ad entitled "horny ladies from lebanon waiting for you" will definitely bring you troubles.