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Keyboards, particularly those shared by multiple people, harbor huge quantities of bacteria. If you want to reduce the chances of picking up your co-worker's cold, you can disinfect your keyboard with disinfecting wipes. To avoid damage to the keyboard, be sure to:

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  • Don't let any liquid from the wipe sit for long periods of time on the keyboard.
  • Don't scrub the keyboard, just lightly wipe down. Rubbing too hard leaves behind more lint.
  • Avoid cleansing cloths that contain bleach.

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Published in TidBITS 852.
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23 Oct 2006 | Print Printer-Friendly Version of This Article

Apple Admits Some iPods Shipped with Windows Virus

by Mark H. Anbinder Send Email to Author

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Apple announced that "a small number" of the video-capable iPods shipped since new iPod models were introduced last month (see "Apple Updates iPods, Introduces Movies, Previews iTV," 18-Sep-06) are infected with the Windows-based RavMonE.exe virus. While this known virus can't affect the iPod itself, or Mac OS computers, it can affect Windows computers to which the iPod is connected, potentially including copies of Windows running on Macs via Boot Camp or Parallels Desktop.

Properly updated anti-virus software running on a Windows computer should detect and remove the virus; Apple's Web page about the infected iPods offers links to free tools to scan for and/or remove the virus. Fewer than 1 percent of fifth-generation video iPods available during the last five weeks are affected; no iPod nano or iPod shuffle models were involved.

Apple urges Windows users to scan their iPods with current anti-virus software, and then if the virus is found and removed, to use iTunes 7 to restore the original software. Apple couldn't resist taking a shot at Microsoft while accepting their own share of the blame, saying "As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it."

 

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