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Virus Information
Protect Your Computer | Virus Hoaxes | General Warnings | Virus Archive
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General Information
PC users have seen a significant increase in the number of
computer viruses over the past few years. ITS strongly recommends Symantec
AntiVirus for campus computer users -- help protect your data by keeping
to keep a current copy of SAV installed on your computer.
No anti virus software? Check your Windows computer online now.
The Symantec online scanner is no substitute for installing an antivirus application, but if you haven't been protected, check your system now to make sure it is clean and then install Symantec AntiVirus.
Caveat Attachment!
Use caution when opening attachments, especially if the message came
from an unknown user or if it features an unusually provocative subject
line. Many computer viruses are transmitted via e-mail attachments,
and are triggered when the attached file is opened.
Backup! Backup! Backup!
Backup your critical data! Malicious computer viruses can destroy data,
so make sure you have a backup copy of your important documents. Remember,
data loss can also occur for other reasons, including theft, hardware
failure, and human error, so it makes sense to backup your files.
For more information, check out Symantec's website for recent information on viruses.
Interested to see what viruses we've warned you about? Check out our Virus Alert Archive. |
Protect Your Computer
It is vital, given how rampant viruses have become, to make sure your computer is protected with an anti-virus application.
For University-owned machines, the application of choice is Symantec AntiVirus. If you are using a University-owned machine, you can make sure your virus definitions are up-to-date by opening Symantec AntiVirus and then checking the virus definition update date. The version date should be fairly recent, as University machines are updated regularly from our antivirus server. If the date does not seem recent enough to you, you can try clicking the Live Update button. If there are any more recent updates, they will be installed.
ITS now offers Symantec AntiVirus software for privately-owned computers, including student computers and faculty/staff home computers. If you do not currently have an antivirus application, or if your subscription has expired, please visit our Symantec AntiVirus website and get the software. Be sure to read all the information related to this software, particularly installation instructions and individual responsibility. You'll need to log in with your USFconnect username and password.
If you suspect you have been infected by a virus, please call the ITS Help Desk at ext.6668. Try not to use your computer until after you have checked with us.
Check out our instructions on how to check for current virus definitions and scan your computer to check for viruses.
VBS.LoveLetter (Windows E-mail virus)
One of the more recent virus scare is an e-mail virus with variants - I love you, Funny Joke, Mother's Day... It does not infect Macintosh computers - though they will have the virus attachment on their computer hard disk. In the case of Eudora e-mail, it may be located in the Attach folder. Macintosh users and non-infected Windows users, please delete any of these files and don't forget to empty your trash.
- LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.vbs
LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.HTM
- [Anything with a .vbs extension]
- (Include any Mother's day.vbs or htm files)
Infected (you double-clicked on the attachment from an unknown e-mail) Windows users, call the ITS Help Desk at ext. 6668 and do not open (double-click) any e-mail attachments with any similarity to the above listed names.
If you would like to do this yourself, here is the Symantec VBS LoveLetter Fix. |
Coals in the Stocking: Prilissa
Look for more news about Prilissa, a new strain of the Melissa virus that appeared last spring. The new variant will activate on December 25th, and may infect Word 97 documents. Prilissa is self-propogating -- it can spread itself by forcing the Microsoft Outlook e-mail program to send unauthorized messages with attached virus-infected documents. Sound crazy? Get more info from Symantec's Anti-Virus Research Center.
And Merry Christmas to you, too...
Another recent virus to watch out for is W32.Navidad, a mass-mailing worm program. For more information on this beast, check out the W32.Navidad Symantec page. This virus is particularly damaging and very good at replicating itself!
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What other Recent Viruses Should I look out for?
Check out Symantec's Security Update page for information on the most current viruses. Always remember, the best way to prevent infecting your computer is to keep your AntiVirus preferences current and to be careful when opening attachments, even ones you believe sent to you by a friend or colleague.
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