horror

For a system-savvy Romeo, saving a damsel in malware distress is one way to win her heart. At least that's the sincerest hope of one teenage boy who helps his crush extinguish malware. Who knew that malicious code could be such an aphrodisiac?

It's just the reverse for Charles, who agrees to help a love interest optimize her system, only to discover that her blinding security ignorance--and excessive toolbars--are an instant turn-off.

But what killjoys got the girls in the first place? Discover the identity of the villainous malware bandits, the assistance of our two heros, and what … Read more

Sixteen-year-old Emily has known her way around a computer from a wee age, but remains a bit naive when it comes to file-sharing safety. Ill-advised downloading practices from P2P networks compel her to restore her system three times. Is all the drama worth it for this teen computing queen? This week's Spyware Horror Story tells all.

As a computer tech, Jack's used to helping families evict unwanted malware.

What he's not used to is having to perform the same service three times in as many months for the same family. Is malware overpowering their defenses, or is the family relying too heavily on professional services as their safety net for chancy online behavior? Find out in this week's Spyware Horror Story.

William is philosophizing to his toothbrush one minute and contemplating practicing shot put with his computer the next. What burst his bubble?

William blames a virus, and in his tussle with the malignant malware, he learns a few lessons about the risks of sharing a computer with family and friends. But was it actually a virus that got him, and are the lessons he learned the right ones?

After the frustrations of dealing with damaged data, it's easy to generalize about past and future behavior. Set the record straight in a thrilling malware true-and-false in this week's Spyware … Read more

Pornographic pop-ups have plagued users since the early days of adware. While the serving methods may have changed since then, the damage these Trojans can do to a person's standing when porn shows up in the wrong place has not.

Users in past Spyware Horror Stories have been branded as smut lovers by family, classmates, and co-workers. In some cases, their jobs or grades were questioned.

In Tom's story, a misclicked link results in an academic toll that far outlasts the threat posed to his data. Find out how Tom saved his files even as his scholastic status … Read more

David's friend calls him in a panic. There's something wrong with his computer, and it's clearly malware.

However, when David attempts to reboot the Windows machine, he discovers that the problem lies much deeper--the whole operating system, it seems, has been corrupted beyond repair.

How does David resuscitate his friend's computer and save his important data in the process? Learn David's creative solution in this week's Spyware Horror Story.

Tom is your average computer user with antivirus protection that does just fine until the day it all comes crashing down. When a lovepostcards.net link automatically appears on his forum posts, Tom knows he's been pummeled by Trojans.

What got him? How did he oust the intruder? What insights from the CNET Download.com editors can keep you from a similar fate? Find out in this week's Spyware Horror Story!

This isn't exactly at gadget you'd want to purchase for your home (we hope), but trust us--you'll want to know when it's available. The University of Buffalo is leading research into dental work that can be done without drilling or anesthesia, based on a device that uses ozone to repair cavities.

The bacteria-killing ozone machine, which is being used in Europe, "fits over a tooth and forms an airtight seal in arresting tooth decay," according to Medgadget. Researchers say the technology is being tested now in the United States and, if approved, could be … Read more