In a networked environment such as Saint Mary's College (including ResNet), the ease with which a virus can spread from computer to computer is greatly multiplied, as is its potential for damage. Instead of affecting just your machine, a virus could spread to hundreds of computers all over campus, and could even bring down our campus network.

Recognizing this threat, the College has decided to provide antivirus software free of cost to all students, faculty, and staff for their personal computers. This software can be downloaded from the campus network and installed on your computer. Any student who connects her computer to the Saint Mary's network via ResNet must download and install this software. Failure to have current antivirus protection on your computer will result in the loss of ResNet access privileges.

If a student prefers to pay for another antivirus software package and install it on their computer and keep it up to date, ResNet does not mind. However, if a student's computer becomes infected with a virus when it has another antivirus software product installed, it is ResNet's policy to remove the other antivirus software and install the supported McAfee antivirus software on that computer. The student must them keep the provided McAfee antivirus software installed and up to date on her personal computer. Failure to do so may result in a loss of network access.

Computers that are blocked from the campus network and Internet because it is infected will not be re-enabled until ResNet confirms that the virus has been removed, that the supported McAfee antivirus software has been installed and set to automatically update its virus definition files, and that the computer has been configured to automatically download and install any necessary operating system updates.