What Is A Virus?

A virus is a computer program that replicates itself by modifying system or application software and then travelling from computer to computer, via disks or a network. Some older viruses are harmless, but newer viruses can erase files saved on your hard drive, slow down your computer, prevent your computer from starting up, e-mail files from your computer to strangers, crash e-mail servers or cause other problems to a network (like the one we have at Saint Mary's), and do other kinds of damage. You can protect your computer against most types of viruses by installing virus protection software.

How Can You Get A Virus?

• If you download software from the Internet, it may contain viruses that will infect your computer when you run the program.
• If you do not keep your computer current with the latest operating system and software updates but are connected to a network or to the Internet, your computer may be vulnerable to viruses that can infect your computer without your knowledge (examples include the Lovesan/Blaster, Welchia/Nachi, and Sasser worms).
• If you click on unknown or suspicious links in instant messaging program profiles or messages, you may unknowingly be downloading a virus that will infect your computer (examples include the Realphx and Best Friends viruses).
• If you share files using shared network drives or other file servers, you may end up downloading an infected file.
• If you receive an e-mail with an infected attachment and you open the attachment, your computer may become infected with a virus (an example is the LoveLetter virus).
• If you receive an infected e-mail message (an example is the Melissa virus).
• If you use Microsoft Word or Excel on your computer, your computer can become infected with a "macro virus" when you open an infected document.

What Happens If My Computer Gets A Virus?

• If your computer gets a virus, you are responsible for cleaning the virus off your computer. You may request assistance from an RCC (if you are a student) or the Helpdesk (if you are faculty or staff).
• Saint Mary's College and Information Technology are not responsible for any loss of data or other damage caused by a computer virus. You are responsible for installing and keeping up-to-date the virus protection software on your computer.
• If your computer gets a virus that is self-spreading, either via e-mail or over the network in some fashion, Information Technology will block Internet access from your computer until the computer has been cleaned and an RCC (if you are a student) or the Helpdesk (if you are faculty or staff) has witnessed a scan for viruses on your computer coming up clean.
• If your computer is suspected of having a virus because it is displaying symptoms of infection that can be traced, Information Technology will block Internet access from your computer until the computer has been examined and/or cleaned and an RCC (if you are a student) or the Helpdesk (if you are faculty or staff) has witnessed a scan for viruses on your computer coming up clean.

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.

The antivirus software is available for both Macintosh and Windows computers.

Windows	Mac
VirusScan 8.5i for Windows Vista VirusScan 8.5i for Windows XP VirusScan 8.0i for Windows XP (Do not use with Dell Latitude D620 or Dell Latitude D820. This does not apply to College-owned computers with a software image installed on it by Information Technology.)	VirusScan for Mac 8.6 (for Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later, incliding 10.5) VirusScan for Mac 8.5 (for Mac OS X version 10.4 or later) Virex 7.7 for Mac OS X (for Mac OS X version 10.2.6 or later)

Windows	Mac
VirusScan 8.0i for Windows XP (Do not use with Dell Latitude D620 or Dell Latitude D820)	VirusScan for Mac 8.5 (for Mac OS X version 10.4 or later) Virex 7.7 for Mac OS X (for Mac OS X version 10.2.6 or later)

Windows	Mac
How to use VirusScan 8.0i Enterprise	Using VirusScan for Mac 8.5 Updating VirusScan for Mac 8.5 Virus Definitions Using VirusScan for Mactel 8.0 Updating VirusScan for Mactel 8.0 Virus Definitions Using Virex 7.7 Updating Virex 7.7 Virus Definitions

Virus Hoaxes

There are a lot of viruses out there. And then there are some viruses that aren't really out there at all. There are many e-mail messages floating around the Internet that claim to be viruses (Good Times, Join the Crew) and are nothing more than hoaxes. The problem with these messages is that people keep forwarding the messages to all their friends, and the message ends up spreading as if it was a virus. 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.

If you receive an e-mail that warns you of a virus, such as "Good Times," that you can get via reading an e-mail message, check it out before panicking and forwarding it to everyone you know - it may be a hoax! To learn if a virus warning is a hoax or not, consult the list of virus hoaxes located at http://vil.mcafee.com/hoax.asp or http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html or http://www.vmyths.com or http://www.snopes.com/.

Questions about virus protection?

• If you are a student living on or off campus, please fill out a ResNet Problem Report Form at http://fixit.saintmarys.edu.
• If you are a faculty or staff member, please contact the Information Technology Helpdesk by sending an e-mail to helpdesk@saintmarys.edu or calling (574) 284-4715, or visiting 123 Haggar College Center. The Help Desk is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Last Modified December 10, 2007