Here is a helpful article on how to use various security programs. Just be sure you understand how you are using some of these.
http://www.download.com/How-tos/1200-2023_4-5157516.html?tag=nl.e415
I think a better source of info would be the mini-guides
and tutorials at www.bleepingcomputer.com .
Have read some recent advise on being cautious with
download.com; I, personally, have avoided this site for
a long time .
Yes, download’s webpages are loaded with hidden ads/cookies. You can see this if you use an ad blocking program on any download, cnet, or zd-net webpage. Some of them will become virtually unreadable using an ad blocker. 
I posted that one because so many newbies do know of, use, and trust that site. So, I figured they might go there when they might not go elsewhere. At least that way, they will learn.
Edit:
By the way, I use AdFree (free to use but a donation is welcomed not nagged for) … http://lucille.dhs.org/adfree.html … which only blocks ads on webpages and does not block pop-ups. I use Earthlink’s pop-up blocker for that. There are others that do both or just ads as shown in this Google search:
Hi Spiritsongs,
Afraid I have to agree with you here, if you go by the all green by siteadvisor on the google search result place, you’d believe the site is “kasher” but then when you see this:
http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/download.com?safesearch
you have to expect 3 to 8 mails sent involuntarily, and a link to WhenU which Ben Edelman classifies as unsolicited adware.
Dr Web classifies the link as free of malware. But I would not like to trust a site that has a “tinge” of adware links.
polonus
PS CharleyO Could you put your remarks on download.com to the review for siteadvisor.
Sure, polonus … will do that right now.
Edit:
Ok … made a reviewer post about all 3 sites on Site Advisor. Copied & pasted the same as I posted above.