Protect Your Computer from Viruses

• Be Careful With Email Attachments
• Log Off
• Set Macro Level
• Do Regular Backups
• Purchase Software
• Check Definitions

All employee and public lab computers are protected from viruses by Trend Micro OfficeScan software. Students in residence halls and college-owned housing are provided with Trend Micro OfficeScan free-of-charge when they register to use the college network. Downloading and installing this software is a condition of network service. Virus definitions are updated automatically to maintain this protection.

Having up-to-date antivirus software is only the first step in protecting your computer from viruses. New viruses are being created all the time and could attack before antivirus software can be developed to detect them. Therefore it is essential that you follow safe practices when downloading files or opening email attachments. Listed below are some tips for preventing a virus infection on your computer.

Take care with email attachments

• Never open an attachment from someone you don't know.
• Never open an attachment with a double file extension (such as name.bmp.exe) or with the extensions VBS, SHS or PIF
• If someone you know sends an unexpected attachment or an attachment in a message that seems strange, check with them before opening the attachment, or just delete the message.
• Avoid using Outlook or Outlook Express for reading and sending email, as many viruses use those programs to spread. We recommend that you use Eudora for reading email, or use Allegheny Webmail for off-campus email access.
• See F-Secure's web page for further tips on preventing the spread of email viruses.

Log off your computer on weeknights to allow automatic virus definition updates

Your computer was configured to automatically update new virus definitions regularly. Unless you have made any changes, this update will take place on a weeknight. Your computer needs to be turned on and you need to be logged off for this update to proceed smoothly. Please remember to always log off your computer during the week, by clicking Start > Shut Down and then selecting the option to log off.
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Set Word Macro Security level to High

Many viruses spread in Word documents, through the use of macros. These viruses can be avoided if Word macro security is set to "High". To check this, click Tools > Macro > Security... on the Word menu. Click the Security Level tab and make sure that High is selected.
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Perform regular backups of your personal files

This won't stop you from getting a virus, but if a virus does destroy information on your hard drive it will ensure that you can recover your data. Please see our backup tutorials for full details.
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Purchase and/or Install antivirus software for your home computer

If you do not have any antivirus software installed on your personal computer, you should obtain some. All registered users of the GatorNet residence hall network are required to complete a free download and install of Trend Micro OfficeScan. If you did not download and install Trend Micro OfficeScan when registering for GatorNet, contact the Computing Help Desk in Murray Hall for instructions.
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Check that Virus Definitions are Up-to-Date

Your antivirus software is configured to perform automatic updates of the virus definitions. To check that this is happening open the antivirus software. (On office, lab, and computers in the dorms, you can do this by clicking Start > Programs > Trend Micro OfficeScan Client > OfficeScan Client). Click on Help in the menu, then choose About. If "Virus pattern release date" is more than one week old, you should perform an update manually. Contact the Help Desk at 2755 if you have any questions about your virus definitions.
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