Why Your Computer Should Be Clean

Did you know that most computers can acquire a virus that is transferrable to human beings!? It's very true. Your computer can act as a "carrier" of this virus, meaning it doesn't show any symptoms of being infected, but it can pass it on to it's unknowing victims. The name of this virus? The common cold.
Every day, as you were growing up, you were probably told by your mother to go wash your hands after doing or touching something. Especially if you were sick. People quite often wipe counter tops, door knobs, bathroom sinks, toilets - anywhere there might be germs and viruses lying in wait for them. But no one ever considers their own computer as a source of these types of pathogens.
Think about it. You get a funny email in the morning. You just have to share it with a co-worker. "Hey, Joe, c'mere and take a look at this." Joe walks over, takes hold of your mouse and scrolls down the page. But, alas, Joe has the beginnings of the flu bug that's going around. He laughs and walks away. You take hold of your mouse and continue working. After a while, you get a little tired and rub your eyes. You now have the flu bug, too.
A recent study in the US has estimated that over $40 billion US is spent or "lost" in that country due to the common cold alone. A whopping 50% is from sick days taken to tend to your own or your children's colds. That doesn't include any other transferrable diseases like the flu or the now famous Norwalk virus. A lot of this expense is preventable by keeping the objects around you as clean as possible, including your computer.

Obviously, your computer should be kept clean on the inside, too. The common cold can't hurt your computer, but dirt and dust can. Dust can acquire an electrostatic charge which can be harmful to your systems internal components. Not blowing or vacuuming out your system on a regular basis can be hazardous to it and cause lost production due to down time or data loss. Fried circuits and burned out power supply fans tend to smell pretty bad, too. Be careful when cleaning the inside of a computer. Always discharge yourself by touching a metal part of the case before opening the case or putting your hands inside. One little spark from static electricity is enough to fry an entire system.