How big of a security threat is AOL Instant Messenger?

[MarineCorps]

As far as I'm concerned, AOL is legal malware. I wouldn't let it anywhere near my pc.

I installed AOL on a barand new never before used HD and had just installed windows on it and decided to scan the computer with Ad aware, there were 113 spyware items on it. I didn't even have a modem installed(I borrowed one to activate winXP but thats it).