Video iPods may Come with Windows Worm

A small number of video iPods picked up an unwelcome tag-along during manufacturing: a Windows worm. The malware doesn't harm the iPod, but once the device hooks up to a PC, the worm can silently wiggle its way into the system--and from there to any linked external storage device, like a thumb drive.

Less than 1 percent of video iPods shipped between September 12 and mid-October carry the worm, but if it infects a PC it can give an attacker full remote control. As a fix, Apple posted links to free trials of popular antivirus apps for cleaning affected computers, and says to use iTunes 7 to wipe and restore an iPod. Apple's bulletin can be found here.

New Office Holes

Hackers are using a new batch of critical Office 2000 flaws to bite credulous openers of suspicious e-mail attachments. The holes are less dangerous, but still present, in Office 2003. Keep Office updated through Automatic Updates, or grab the patches here.

More Battery Heat

Sony is recalling some 3.5 million laptop batteries worldwide, including those used in its VAIO notebooks, as well as those in models from Fujitsu, Gateway, and Toshiba, because of a minute (but real) risk of overheating and fire. For a full list of recalled models and links to makers' recall sites, click here.

Stuart J. Johnston is a contributing editor for PC World.