Students' computers are typically blocked for the following reasons:

1. The computer has a virus and it is attempting to spread that virus over the network.
2. The computer does not have specific critical Windows security patches installed.
3. The computer and its owner are in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
4. The computer and its owner are in violation of Saint Mary's acceptable use policy for computer systems.

If your computer has been blocked from the network, you will be notified via e-mail. The e-mail will also explain why your computer has been blocked. (Students are able to access their Saint Mary's e-mail accounts from any computer with Internet access via https://webmail.saintmarys.edu.) You should also see a notice about why your computer was blocked when you open a web broswer on your computer.

If your computer was blocked because of a virus and the attempts to spread that virus over the network, it will not be re-enabled until a Residential Computer Consultant ensures that the virus has been cleaned off the computer. Your computer may be scanned over the network to confirm the removal of the virus before it is re-enabled.

If the computer was blocked because it does not have specific Windows security patches installed, it will not be re-enabled until the patches have successfully been installed and any viruses or worms that infected the computer due to the lack of patches have been removed. You are responsible for e-mailing resnet@saintmarys.edu from your Saint Mary's e-mail account when your computer has been cleaned and patched. After receiving your e-mail, Information Technology will scan the network for your computer to confirm the patches were successfully installed before it is re-enabled. More detailed information will be available on your computer when you open a web broswer, including instructions on how to clean and patch your computer on your own if you wish.

If the computer was blocked because of a Digital Millennium Copyright Act violation, Student Affairs will become involved. Only when Information Technology is notified by Student Affairs that computer access can be restored will the computer be re-enabled on the network.

If the computer was blocked because of a Saint Mary's acceptable use policy violation, Information Technology will be involved and may choose to involve Student Affairs. Only when Information Technology (or Information Technology and Student Affairs) agrees that computer access can be restored will the computer be re-enabled on the network.