Virex 7.2 for Mac OS X
Instructions for installing Virex 7.2 on a computer located off-campus
What is Virex?
Installing Virex 7.2
Using Virex 7.2
Manually updating Virex Virus Definitions
Configuring Virex 7.2 to automatically update its Virus Definitions
What is Virex?
Virex virus-protection software that is available for use on College-owned and personally-owned
Macintosh computers of faculty, staff and students. It is standard software on every
public and office Macintosh. If Virex is not already on a Mac, you can install the software
using the instructions below.
Even if you have Virex installed on your Macintosh, you must still update your
Virex virus definition files monthly to keep your virus-protection software up-to-date.
The instructions for installing Virex 7.2 will include information on how Virex 7.2 will
automatically download and install the latest virus definitions available for your computer.
Installing Virex 7.2
To install Virex 7.2 on your computer, you must have Mac OS X version 10.1.3 or later
installed on your computer.
To make sure that your computer is running Mac OS X version 10.1.3 or later, go to the Apple Menu
in the upper left corner of your computer and select "About this Mac." Under the words
"Mac OS X" it will list the version number. If you are running a version of Mac OS X
that is earlier than version 10.1.3, you can run Software Update
(found in the System Preferences) to update your operating system to version 10.1.3.
This install will take approximately 10-30 minutes, depending on
the speed of the computer and the number of files on the
computer.
- If you have a previous version of Virex for Mac OS X
installed on your Macintosh, it will not affect the installation
of Virex 7.2 Virex 7.2 will install over previous versions of Virex for
Mac OS X. You will have to remove any aliases to the previous version(s)
of Virex you have on your computer (including any Virex icons in the Dock)
because they will not work with Virex 7.2.
- If you have virus protection software other than Virex
installed on your Macintosh, please refer to the documentation that
came with that software to uninstall it.
Having multiple copies of virus-protection software installed on a computer
can cause severe performance problems.
If you do not have the original software manuals for your existing virus-protection
software, you may want to refer to the software manufacturer's web site for
instructions.
- Obtain Virex 7.2
(These instructions must be completed on the Saint Mary's Campus.)
- Print a copy of these directions so that you can reference
them during the install.
- Log into Diamond and mount the ResNet Software volume if it isn't already mounted.
- From the Go menu, select Connect to Server...
- In the Address field,
type diamond and click Connect.
- When prompted, type in your Saint Mary's login and password. (This is the same login
and password that you use to
check your Saint Mary's e-mail.) Then click OK. When you are successfully
logged in, another dialog box
will open.
- Note that you will need to use the scroll bar on the right of the
list of names to see all these items.
Some of the items may be greyed out; this is normal.
One of the options will be ResNet Software - click once of ResNet Software
to highlight it and click OK.
- The ResNet Software icon will appear on your desktop.
- Insert a Zip disk into your Mac's Zip drive (if your computer off-campus
also has a Zip drive) or insert a CD-R or CD-RW into your Mac's CD-R or CD-RW
drive. If your Mac on campus does not have a CD-R or CD-RW drive, all of the Macs
in Trumper have CD-RW drives, and you can complete this section of the Virex instrucations
on one of those Macs.
NOTE:You can obtain the Virex 7.2 for Mac OS X software from a Mac OS 8.x or 9.x
computer, but you cannot install it on a Mac OS 8.x or 9.x computer.
- Double-click on the ResNet Software icon on your desktop.
- Double-click on the For Mac OS X Users folder.
- Drag the Virex 7.2 for Mac OS X folder to the icon of the Zip disk or the CD (CD-R or CD-RW)
on your desktop and wait for it to copy over.
- Eject the Zip disk or CD by dragging the icon of the disk to the
Trash/Eject/Disconnect icon in your dock.
If you are using a CD (CD-R or CD-RW), you will be asked if you would like to burn the
data onto the CD. Click OK (or Burn) and wait for the information to be copied onto the CD.
When the CD is done burning, you can eject it.
- Drag the ResNet Software icon on your desktop to the Trash/Eject/Disconnect icon
in your dock to unmount the network drive.
- Install Virex 7.2
(These instructions should be completed on your off-campus Macintosh.)
- Restart your Macintosh (and log in when prompted).
- Insert the Zip disk or CD that you copied the Virex 7.2 folder for Mac OS X folder onto.
Double-click on the Zip disk or CD, then double-click on the Virex 7.2 for Mac OS X folder.
- Double-click on the Virex 7.2 Installer folder.
- Double-click on the Virex72.gz file. It will expand, giving you a Virex7.2.pkg
file.
- Double-click on the Virex7.2.pkg file.
- The installer will launch, and a screen will tell you that you need
and administrator password to install the software (even if you are already
logged in as an administrator).
- Type in the administrator username and password when prompted.
Click OK. (You may need to click on the lock icon in the window
to be shown the area to type in your administrator name and password.)
- Read the information about Virex 7.2 presented in the window and
click Continue.
- Read the release notes for Virex 7.2 presented in the window and
click Continue.
- Read the license agreement and click Continue.
- Click Agree.
- Select a destination volume for Virex 7.2 by clicking on it and then click Continue.
(You should select your hard drive as the destination volume.
If your hard drive is partitioned or if you have more than one hard disk installed,
you should install Virex 7.2 on the same partition Mac OS X is installed on.)
- Click Install. The software will install and optimize your system performance.
- When the software was successfully installed, click Close.
- Close any open windows. Drag the Virex 7.2 for Mac OS X folder from your
desktop to the trash.
- If you do not have an active Internet connection (dial-up or broadband,
connecting either through Saint Mary's College, AOL, or another Internet
Service Provider), please connect to the Internet now to continue with the rest
of the instructions and complete the installation of Virex 7.2.
- Launch Virex 7.2
- Double-click on the Macintosh HD
(or the drive you installed Virex 7.2 on).
- Double-click on the Applications folder.
- Double-click on the Virex 7 folder.
- Double-click on the Virex 7.2 icon.
- Virex 7.2 will ask for an administrator password to perform an eUpdate.
Type in your administrator password (the same one you use to log in to your
Mac OS X computer) and click OK.
- Virex 7.2 will download and install the latest virus definitions on your computer.
This may take a few minutes.
- Virex 7.2 is configured to scan your home directory for viruses every time you
log in to your computer. You may use your computer (launch applications, access the
network and/or Internet) while Virex 7.2 is scanning your files. If you do not want
Virex 7.2 to scan your home directory every time you log in:
- Launch the Virex 7.2 application.
- Go to the Virex 7.2 menu and select Preferences...
- Uncheck "Automatically scan at login."
- Click OK.
NOTE: This will stop Virex 7.2 from scanning your home directory when you log in,
but it will also stop Virex 7.2 from checking for updated virus definition
files every time you log in. If you choose to turn off the automatic scanning
of your home directory, please make sure that you launch Virex 7.2
on a regular (weekly) basis to check for updated virus definition files
and scan your computer for viruses.
- Any time there are new virus definition files available and Virex 7.2 is
launched (when Virex 7.2 launches to scan your home directory after you log in
or when you open the Virex 7.2 application), Virex 7.2 will notify you.
Type in your password when prompted and Virex 7.2 will automatically download
and install the latest virus definitions on your computer. (Note: This process will
require that your computer be connected to the Internet during the download.)
- It is recommended that you place an alias to Virex 7.2 in your Mac OS X
Dock. To do this, locate the Virex 7.2 application icon
(double-click on the Macintosh HD, double-click on the Applications folder,
double-click on the Virex 7 folder). Click once on the Virex 7.2 icon and drag it to
the Dock. Release the mouse button to place the icon for Virex 7.2 in the Dock.
- Congratulations! You finished the Virex installation.
Scan your computer now that you have the latest virus protection.
Using Virex
Virex 7.2 is configure to scan your home directory for viruses every time you log in to your
computer.
Virex 7 does not automatically scan every file downloaded, copied to, opened on,
or created on your Macintosh.
Launching Virex
- Double-click on the Macintosh HD
(or the drive you installed Virex 7.2 on).
- Double-click on the Applications folder.
- Double-click on the Virex 7 folder.
- Double-click on the Virex 7 icon.
Manually scanning your hard drive and disks
Whenever Virex is newly installed or updated you should scan your hard drive immediately.
Information Technology recommends scanning your hard drive regularly, at least once a week.
To scan for viruses using the Virex interface:
- In the Scan dialog box, select the location that you want to scan. Choose from:
- Home
- Documents
- Desktop
- Public
- Applications
- Macintosh HD
- All Local Volumes
- Choose
- Click the Scan button.
- A status bar appears while Virex examines the selected item, and cleans
infected files. The results appear in the Results area.
- To stop the scan, click the Stop button in the upper-right corner.
To scan items without using the Virex interface:
- Select one or more items in a Finder window or on the Macintosh desktop.
- Drag the item(s) onto the Scan button or the Virex application icon.
You can drag many types of items, including documents, files, folders or volumes.
You can also scan files by dragging them onto the Virex 7.2 icon in the Dock.
Quitting Virex
While in the Virex application, go to the Virex menu and select Quit Virex.
Manually updating Virex Virus Definitions
A new virus definition is written for every new virus.
New virus definitions are available monthly by McAfee (the Virex software
manufacturer) in order to be effective against the latest viruses.
Virus definitions for Virex 7.2 are released once or twice every month.
To check which virus definitions you have, launch Virex 7.2 and note
the date of the Virus Definitions in the Results box in the center of the window.
Virex 7.2 will let you know if there are newer virus definition files available
and allow you to download and install them.
You can also force an update of your virus definition files by clicking on the eUpdate icon
in the upper right corner of the Virex 7.2 window.
Configuring Virex to automatically update its Virus Definitions
If you installed Virex 7.2 from Saint Mary's College and left the preferences at their default
settings, the software should automatically update its virus definitions.
To restore the default preferences for Virex 7.2:
- Launch the Virex 7.2 application.
- Go to the Virex 7.2 menu and select Preferences...
- Click the "Reset to Defaults" button at the bottom of the window.
- Click OK.
Last updated May 30, 2003