Does anyone know if Avast Anti-virus detects spyware and are there other free spyware removal programs about?

I don't think I have any but I like to be sure.

I don't know about Avast, I use the free version of Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition for spyware removal

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

Sweet thanks.

Use FireFox with AdBlockPlus and NoScript, and you don't really have to worry about it.

I do use firefox.

I agree about AdAware. You might also try Spybot Search & Destroy. And Windows Defender (from Microsoft).

As for Avast, it only scans for viruses, not spyware.

I do use firefox.

As long as you don't enable its ActiveX emulators, you should not pick anything up while running NoScript.

Eh. I just got a some spyware trojan thing. I gotta clean out some crap. What a pain. I have to turn off some security to listen to my voice mail messages on the internet. And thus, I was nailed.

you might want to check out hijackthis while you're @ it

I also recommend using Trend Micro's HouseCall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com) every once in a while... or when Avast! or AVG doesn't catch/uninstall something that is eating your system. It pretty much repaired an HP system for one of my clients all on it's own. He had AVG, but one virus slipped through and wouldn't let AVG detect it. :))

you actually need an antivirus program like avg or nod32 AND an antispyware program like adaware, spybot s&d, or windows defender.

http://tech.cybernetnews.com/2007/06/04/new-retrospective-antivirus-results-are-in/