Virex 7 for Mac OS X

Instructions for installing Virex 7 on a computer located off-campus

What is Virex?

Installing Virex 7

Using Virex 7

Updating Virex Virus Definitions

Configuring Virex 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. Instructions for manually updating the Virex virus definition files on your Macintosh are here.

Installing Virex 7

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 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 (These instructions must be completed on the Saint Mary's Campus.)

1. Print a copy of these directions so that you can reference them during the install.
2. Log into Diamond and mount the ResNet Software volume if it isn't already mounted.
1. From the Go menu, select Connect to Server...
2. In the Address field, type diamond and click Connect.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. The ResNet Software icon will appear on your desktop.
3. 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.
   You can obtain the Virex 7 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.
4. Double-click on the ResNet Software icon on your desktop.
5. Double-click on the For Mac OS X Users folder.
6. Drag the Virex 7 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.
7. 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.

8. 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 (These instructions should be completed on your off-campus Macintosh.)

1. Restart your Macintosh (and log in when prompted).
2. Insert the Zip disk or CD that you copied the Virex 7 folder for Mac OS X folder onto. Double-click on the Zip disk or CD, then double-click on the Virex 7 for Mac OS X folder.
3. You will see three folders:
• Virex 7 Installer
• Virex 7 Engine Update
• Virex 7 Definitions Update
3. Double-click on the Virex 7 Installer folder.
4. Double-click on the Virex7.gz file. It will expand, giving you a Virex7 file and a Virex7 folder.
5. Double-click on the Virex7 folder.
6. Double-click on the Virex7.pkg file.
7. 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).
8. Click on the lock icon in the window and type in the administrator username and password when prompted. Click OK.
9. Read the information about Virex 7 presented in the window and click Continue.
10. Read the release notes for Virex 7 presented in the window and click Continue.
11. Read the license agreement and click Continue.
12. Click Agree.
13. Select a destination volume for Virex 7 and click Continue.
    (You should select your hard drive as the destination volume. If your hard drive is partitioned, you should install Virex on the same partition Mac OS X is installed on.)
14. Click Install.
15. Click Continue Installation.
16. When the software was successfully installed, click Restart (and log in when prompted).
17. The Virex7 Folder window may be open. If so, close it.
18. Double-click on the Virex 7 for Mac OS X folder on your desktop.
19. Double-click on the Virex 7 Engine Update folder.
20. Double-click on the Vx7-4160.gz file. It will expand, giving you a Vx7-4160 file and a Vx7-4160.pkg file.
21. Double-click on the Vx7-4160.pkg file.
22. The Engine Updater 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).
23. Click on the lock icon in the window and type in the administrator username and password when prompted. Click OK.
24. Read the information about Virex 7.0 4160 Engine presented in the window and click Continue.
25. Read the release notes for Virex 7 Engine Update presented in the window and click Continue.
26. Select a destination volume for Virex 7 Engine Update and click Continue.
    (You should select the same location as you did for the Virex 7 installation.)
27. Click Install.
28. Click Continue Installation.
29. When the software was successfully installed, click Restart (and log in when prompted).
30. The Virex7 Engine Update folder window may be open. If so, close it.
31. Double-click on the Virex 7 for Mac OS X folder on your desktop.
32. Double-click on the Virex 7 Definitions Update folder.
33. Double-click on the file in that folder. It will expand, giving you a two files, one with the extension .pkg.
34. Double-click on the .pkg file.
35. The Updater 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).
36. Click on the lock icon in the window and type in the administrator username and password when prompted. Click OK.
37. Read the release notes for Virex 7 Virus Definition Files presented in the window and click Continue.
38. Select a destination volume for Virex 7 Definition Files and click Continue.
    (You should select the same location as you did for the Virex 7 installation.)
39. Click Install.
40. Click Close.
41. Click the Virex 7 Definition Update window.
42. Drag the Virex 7 for Mac OS X folder from your desktop to the trash.
43. Congratulations! You finished the Virex installation.
    Scan your computer now that you have the latest virus protection.

NOTE: You have just installed the latest version of the Virex application. However, virus definitions need to be updated approximately every month to be effective against the latest viruses. Instructions for updating your Virex virus definitions can be found here.

Using Virex

Launching Virex

1. Double-click on the Macintosh HD.
2. Double-click on the Applications folder.
3. Double-click on the Virex 7 folder.
4. Double-click on the Virex 7 icon.

Manually scanning your hard drive and disks

Whenever Virex is newly installed or updated you need to scan your hard drive immediately. Information Technology recommends scanning your hard drive regularly, at least once a week.

• Click the Diagnose button.
• In the Open dialog, select the volume, drive, folder, or file you want to scan. As Virex scans the item(s) you selected, you will be shown what files it has scanned.
• To stop the diagnosis, click Stop in the upper right corner of the Virex 7 window.
• If Virex finds any viruses during this initial scan, stop the diagnosis and Click the Clean button. In the Open dialog, select the most inclusive volume (such as your hard drive) to scan, since you may have more than one virus, and the virus(es) may have spread to other files on your computer.
• Be sure you scan any floppy disks, Zip disks, or shared files recently used in infected computers.

Quitting Virex

While in the Virex application, go to the Virex menu and select Quit Virex.

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 are released once or twice every month. Information Technologies will post the definitions as soon as they have been made available and tested.

To check which virus definitions you have, launch Virex and note the date of the Virus Definitions in the lower left corner of the Virex application window. If you already have the virus definitions from the current month there is no need to go through this updating process. If you do not have the noted virus definitions continue with these directions to update them.

To update your Virex Virus Definitions:

1. Verify that you have Virex installed on your Macintosh:
1. Double-click on Macintosh HD, double-click on the Applications folder, and look for the Virex 7 folder.
2. Go to ftp://ftp.nai.com/virusdefs/mac/virex7/

3. Click on the V7xxxxxx.gz link to download the more recent definitions.

4. Double-click on the .gz file on your desktop. It will expand, giving you two new files (V7xxxxxx and V7xxxxxx.pkg).
5. Double-click on the .pkg file.
6. The Updater 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).
7. Click on the lock icon in the window and type in the administrator username and password when prompted. Click OK.
8. Read the release notes for Virex 7 Virus Definition Files presented in the window and click Continue.
9. Select a destination volume for Virex 7 Definition Files and click Continue.
   (You should select the same location as you did for the Virex 7 installation.)
10. Click Install.
11. Click Close.
12. Drag the three files from the Updater (V7xxxxxx.gz, V7xxxxxx, and V7xxxxxx.pkg) to the Trash.
13. Scan your computer now that you have the latest virus protection.

Configuring Virex to automatically update its Virus Definitions

This feature is not currently available in Virex 7, but should be available in an update.

You can refer to the ResNet Software network drive or the McAfee Virex 7 web page ( ftp://ftp.nai.com/virusdefs/mac/virex7/) at any time to check and see if the definitions and engine posted are the same as you have installed on your computer.

Last updated May 22, 2002