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Viruses

A central virus scanning server is available for all PC desktops at the Health Sciences Center. This server provides the latest virus definition protection for your PC and is available for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP and Vista users. Once connected to the server, your PC will automatically update as new definitions are available. The Help Desk will maintain the server and provide licenses for all HSC computers connected to the server.

Please note that this software is only available for PC and laptop computers located within the Health Sciences Center or Charleston Division Health Sciences Center. If you are located at a remote site, you must obtain and run antivirus software in a stand alone mode. Macintosh users will also need to run antivirus software in a stand alone mode.

For more information on this software and installation instructions, please visit our Norton AntiVirus Setup page.

To install ,Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, or XP computer..

To install Symantec AntiVirus for Windows Vista, please use this installation package.

Virus Information

The following web sites have information on the different viruses that are circulating. At some of these web sites, you can sign up for e-mail updates of currently circulating or dangerous viruses.

• McAfee Virus Information: From here, you can look up information on current viruses, search a virus dictionary, view a regional map of what viruses are where, sign up for e-mail to warn you of upcoming viruses and learn more about virus hoaxes.
• Symantec Security Response: Search for viruses and view current virus threats.
• Virus Bulletin: News and resources about viruses.
• WildList Organization International: Information on current viruses as well as general information on computer viruses.

The following is a list of the attachment extensions ITS is currently blocking from the Outlook Exchange system:

Virus Hoax Information

Virus hoaxes may seem innocent at first, but typically cause damage in one of two ways. A virus hoax may tell you that if you have a file in your computer, like bob.exe that is not a virus, but is in fact a file needed by the operating system. The second way that a hoax causes damage, is by telling you to "send this message to everyone in your address book!" Doing so can tie up the network and slow things down for other system users. If you receive a message telling you that your computer is infected with a virus, check one of the sites below before deleting files from your computer or sending the message on to everyone you know.

• McAfee Virus Hoaxes: Contains a list of virus hoaxes.
• Virus Bulletin Hoax Page: A subsection of the Virus Bulletin web site, dedicated to virus hoaxes.
• Virus Myths: Contains a searchable list of computer virus hoaxes and virus hysteria from A to Z.

For Your Home Computer

Antivirus software is necessary to keep your home computer from becoming infected with a computer virus that can damage your computer or slow down the network. These antivirus programs typically scan e-mail messages and attachments, files downloaded from the Internet, and files from diskettes or zip drives that you open or move onto your computer. To keep your computer secure, you need to have antivirus software on your computer and you need to make sure that you virus definitions are updated on a regular basis, typically about once a week. Some software packages will update automatically, others need to be updated manually; either way, it is important to make sure this is done regularly.

Spyware

Spyware is a fairly new kind of threat that many antivirus applications do not identify. If there are new toolbars in your browser that you did not intentionally install, if your browser crashes, or if your browser's start page has changed without your knowing, you most likely have spyware.

Even if there doesn't seem to be any problems or differences, you may still be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging that is silently tracking your surfing behavior to create a marketing profile of you. This profile might then be sold to advertisement companies