The USTAR Tech Team is here to provide you with up to date information to keep your computer virus free. Below are a few important tips.
Install
Virus Scan
Union College ITS provides Virus Scan Software free of charge to all faculty,
students and Staff for both Macintosh and Windows operating systems.
Windows: McAfee Virus Scan 4.5.1: (Installation File) (How To)
IMPORTANT: You
will need to uninstall any other antivirus software (i.e. Norton AntiVirus)
from your computer before you proceed with the installation of McAfee Virus
Scan 4.5.
Seek USTAR for Help
if you require assistance.
Macintosh:
Virex 6.1:
(Instalation File) (How
To)
Updating
Virus Scan
It is important that you update your virus definitions weekly because new
viruses appear all the time. In order to do this follow these simple instructions.
What
is a virus?
A computer program file capable of attaching to disks or other files and replicating
itself repeatedly, typically without user knowledge or permission. Some viruses
attach to files so when the infected file executes, the virus also executes.
Other viruses sit in a computer's memory and infect files as the computer
opens, modifies or creates the files. Some viruses display symptoms, and some
viruses damage files and computer systems, but neither symptoms nor damage
is essential in the definition of a virus; a non-damaging virus is still a
virus.
What
is a worm?
Worms are parasitic computer programs that replicate, but unlike viruses,
do not infect other computer program files. Worms can create copies on the
same computer, or can send the copies to other computers via a network. Worms
often spread via IRC (Internet Relay Chat).
Hoaxes
Virus Hoaxes: Not Just Harmless Pranks
There are a lot of viruses out there. And then there are some viruses that
aren't really out there at all. Hoax virus warning messages are more than
mere annoyances. After repeatedly becoming alarmed, only to learn that there
was no real virus, computer users may get into the habit of ignoring all virus
warning messages, leaving them especially vulnerable to the next real, and
truly destructive, virus.
Don't let your guard down! Remember: Never open an email attachment unless you know what it is--even if it comes from someone you know and trust.
Be aware that
the people who create viruses can use known hoaxes to their advantage.
A good example is the AOL4FREE hoax. This began as a hoax warning about a
nonexistent virus. Once it was known that this was a hoax, somebody began
to distribute a destructive trojan horse (a trojan horse differs from a virus
in that it does not reproduce itself) in a file named AOL4FREE, attached to
the original hoax virus warning!
The lessons are clear: 1. Always remain vigilant 2. Never open a suspicious attachment
Links to Hoax
information:
* http://vil.nai.com/VIL/hoaxes.asp
* http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/hoax.html
What else can
I do to protect myself? See
McAfee's Virus Prevention Tips
Designed by Smitesh Bakrania '03
