Question: My computer keeps rebooting by itself, no matter what I do. I have even booted into safe mode but it keeps doing it.
Answer: Welcome to the "sasser" worm. Getting rid of it is pretty easy if you have access to a computer that is working. Head to the Web site of an anti-virus provider such as Symantec or McAfee and download the free removal tool. Then, and this is the most important part, buy and install an anti-virus product. Then update it immediately. Then run a complete system scan. Then run the scheduling part of the program to make sure the update system runs every day or two. Then run a scan every day or two in the middle of the night when your computing won't be interrupted. The best solutions these days is to leave your PC on at night (turn off the monitor) and let it run its maintenance while you doze.
Make sure you have a firewall in place if you have a high-speed connection to the Internet (the built-in one in Windows XP is good enough for basic PCs) and make sure you keep that updated, too.
Time was, all you had to do to own a PC is plug it in and use it. Now, much like my lawn, there is maintenance involved.
And, if you want to read a great book, try "The Cuckoo's Egg" by Cliff Stoll. It explains everything about hackers, the start of the computer age and has a great chocolate chip recipe to boot.
Question: Why doesn't Microsoft release one big patch that updates Windows so it is safe?
Answer: It is planning on it. The next service pack for Windows will do just that, but given the march of time even the patch will be several months out of date by the time it is released in the next couple of weeks. By the time any large patch is vetted by Microsoft and its team of experts, it will always be out of date for the latest teen with too much time on his hands.
Question: How come you never point out that Apple computers are so much safer than Windows?
Answer: Two things. I do think Apples likely are more safe than Windows PCs because nearly all the world's hackers are spending all their time working on Windows exploits. After all, a great virus for the Mac wouldn't even make the news. But I think line for line of code, the Apple system is more elegant if less ubiquitous.
Question: I heard about a free version of Microsoft Office. Where can I get it?
Answer: It is available for download at www.openoffice.org. It is not a free version of Office; it is an open-source version of the popular platform. It doesn't have the same level of functionality but it is enough for many users. And you can't beat the price.
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James Derk is new media editor for The Evansville Courier & Press. His e-mail address is jderk@evansville.net.