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| CURRENT SECTION :: TechZone | UK's most visited IT Contractor Site - 250k unique visitors March 2008 |
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The average office computer keyboard can carry more harmful bacteria than a typical toilet seat, putting anyone who uses it at risk from vomiting and diarrhoea. Such is the finding of a microbiologist who was tasked by consumer group Which? to swab 33 keyboards being regularly used in an office in London. In the test, the microbiologist had to remove one keyboard because it contained 150 times the acceptable limit of bacteria, making it five times dirtier than a bog-standard loo seat. Other keyboards harboured levels of E coli and S aureus, which can cause skin infections, while two contained high doses of coliform bacteria, which are associated with fecal matter. Anyone who eats their lunch over the keyboard helps the outbreak, as the crumbs they drop encourage the growth of millions of bacteria, the study author warned. But their actions may not be without consequence: those who eat at a sandwich or piece of fruit after tapping filthy keys are prone to stomach bugs. Poor personal hygiene, such as dodging the wash basin after going to the toilet, may also be to blame for the increasing likelihood of getting what is being dubbed ‘Qwerty tummy.’ However most users think getting a virus from a computer is offset with software not cleanliness; 20% never clean their mouse, and 10% never clean their keyboard. The study found the most likely level of cleanliness – practiced by almost half the respondents - was to clean their keyboard once a month. Which? Computing’s editor Sarah Kidner recommended a simple spring clean of a computer to avoid a health hazard. “Most people don’t give much thought to the grime that builds up on their PC,” she said, “but if you don’t clean your computer you might as well eat your lunch off the toilet.” To clean your PC , shutdown, unplug it and wipe its surfaces with a soft, lightly dampened lint-free cloth. Then shake out any dust or crumbs from the keyboard and subsequently disinfect it with alcohol wipes. May 2, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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