If you use a web browser, chances are you've had a run-in with spyware or adware. Some antivirus software has begun detecting these things, and there are good free checking-and-removal tools such as AdAware and SpyBot Search&Destroy. However, CNET News is reporting that the free "removal" tool SpyBan that was available from Download.com actually installed the spyware Look2Me on a user's computer.

Since this discovery, Download.com has removed SpyBan from its downloads, and public-interest group The Center for Democracy & Technology plans to file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission.

CNN.com reports that NASA has halted work on Mars again to finish correcting a flash memory problem aboard the Spirit rover. The rover has had problems since its apparently flawless landing on the Martian surface January 3rd. Its twin, Opportunity, which landed three weeks later, seems to be functioning fine so far.

Fetch the full story yonder.

From Tom’s Hardware: Fewer than six weeks into the new year, ATi is waking the mobile gaming community up from its state of winter hibernation with a new mobile DirectX 9 chip, the MR 9700…Unlike its predecessor, the MR 9600 is also immediately available in notebooks upon launch. But does the graphics processor live up to ATi's stated claim? See for yourself!

Wired.com reports that the MyDoom worm has snared SCO, one of two rabbits it was set to trap. The lawsuit-happy company announced that “Internet traffic began building momentum Saturday evening and by midnight Eastern Time the SCO website was flooded with requests beyond its capacity," causing the site to drop off-line. If you’re unfamiliar with the recent legal history concerning SCO and Unix, you can see what Google has to say and catch up.

You can read the entire story here.

I’d offer a link to SCO’s website, but uh…it seems to be down at the moment.

Update: SCO has launched a new website here.

Ubisoft's second installment of Sam Fisher's adventure is nearing release.

Ubisoft announced that the Xbox, PC and Game Boy Advance versions of Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow is expected to ship at the end of March. Due to issues with development and the group's commitment to making sure these versions are as high-quality as the Xbox version, the Playstation 2 and GameCube versions will launch at a later date, which has yet to be announced.

A teaser trailer, highlighting the multiplayer version of Pandora Tomorrow can be viewed on ign.com by clicking here.

This post by Gamespot brings news from Ubisoft's earnings report about a sequel planned for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, recent revival of the adventures of the acrobatic prince.

There are no details whatsoever about the project at this point, except word from Ubisoft chairman Yves Guillemot on what they will take advantage of when they roll back time, as he says the sequel will have "improved marketing positioning."

Originally planned for release in September of last year, Half-Life 2, the game that a struggling industry is counting on to revive plummeting sales, finally has a tentative release date.

Doug Lombardi, director of marketing at Valve, the company behind Half-Life, told CNN that they are currently targeting this summer for the completion of Half-Life 2.

The game was originally delayed shortly after it became public knowledge that the source code had been stolen. More information, and hopefully a firmer release date, should be available at E3, which takes place this May.

More information can be found at Ars Technica.

If, like most people, you use a mobile phone, you may soon be the target of more spam. Although not yet tremendous problem for the U.S. (SMS messaging is fairly new here) experts say that could change soon. The type of spam being sent hasn't changed much, right down to "send this message to 50 people and recieve a fabulous prize" and "dying child needs your help" scams. Microsoft spokesman Jeff Bullwinkel had this to say:

"SMS spam is certainly something that people are focusing on, particularly in markets like Japan where it is a common problem. It's big in markets where mobile communications are prevalent."

International companies like Japan's DoCoMo have already been forced to take legal action, by cutting off 2,173 lines believed to be used for spam. Consumers in the UK are concerned about the rising number of mobile solicitors as well.

Overclockers.com published a story last week that got Mac lovers everywhere talking... about killing the author. Sent in by someone calling themselves Andy and complete with pictures, the hoax described the gutting of an expensive new G5 and the subsequent rebuilding- using parts belonging to a budget PC. Mac users weren't laughing, however, and his inbox was soon overrun with e-mail messages like this one:

"I hope your PC blows up and leaves your miserable face disfigured forever. You will surely burn in hell for an eternity for this one."

Realizing the emotional uproar he caused, Andy sent the site an apology to post, saying that he had never expected such a reaction.

In a sign that 80's retro has ended and 90's retro is gaining steam, Japanese toymaker Bandai has announced that they will be coming out with a new version of their handheld Tamagotchi virtual pets, according to Japan Today.

The little digital pixelated pets grew to popularity in the mid-90s, with scores of people pushing tiny buttons in lieu of actually feeding and caring for a pet. Eventually, these keychain-sized buddies were left in couch cushions or lost at the bottom of backpacks to die a virtual death.

Now Tamagotchi users will be able to beam back and forth to one another, have their pets "marry", "reproduce" and have other social interactions that the user himself may never see. No word yet on whether Bandai will release the next generation in the United States.

German game development house Crytek, who are currently finishing work on Far Cry, a first person shooter for Ubisoft, were allegedly raided by police this morning for using pirated software development tools. The company is expected to be charged fines in the 6 figure amount (euro) for the offense. The tip-off apparently came from a former employee of the company.

The raid shouldn't have any adverse effects on the production schedule for Far Cry. Neither Crytek nor Ubisoft have yet issued a statement regarding the incident.