Protecting Against Computer Viruses

Computer viruses and worms are programs that are written with the specific purpose of doing harm to computer files.  Some worms, once activated, will cause one computer to attack another computer.

Computer viruses/worms can be transmitted via infected flopped, e-mailed attachments and downloads from infected web sites. Technology Services strongly recommends that all student PCs have an anti-virus program installed. Anti-virus software protects your computer and data.

Two popular anti-virus programs for personal use are Norton Anti-Virus and McAfee Anti-Virus. These programs are available at any store or website selling computer software.

Trinity provides current students living on campus with Symantec AntiVirus for free.

• Downloading Symantec AntiVirus
• Installation
• Scanning Your Computer
• Finding A Computer Virus
• Virus Protection Best Practices

Downloading Symantec AntiVirus

Downloading Symantec AntiVirus will only work if you are in the Cuvilly or Kerby dorms. By downloading and installing Symantec AntiVirus, the student agrees to the following terms & conditions:

1. The installation of Symantec AntiVirus may not be altered in any way.
2. Symantec AntiVirus is intended only for the personal computer of the student, and shall not be distributed thereafter.
3. Symantec AntiVirus must be uninstalled immediately if the student is no longer enrolled at Trinity College.
4. Trinity College reserves the right to deny access to the network to any device found to be inadequately protected or currently infected with a virus.
   
   
   
   

Installation

Before installing Symantec AntiVirus, please make sure you uninstall any existing AntiVirus software on your computer. In addition, Symantec AntiVirus will only work on computers with Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista. After downloading Symantec AntiVirus, double-click on SAV Installer for Students.exe to begin the automated installation.

Scanning Your Computer

Symantec AntiVirus is automatically configured to perform a full virus scan every Tuesday at 9:00 PM. However, if you would like to manually initiate a scan, perform the following steps:

1. Click on Start | All Programs | Symantec Client Security | Symantec AntiVirus.
2. On the left-hand side of Symantec AntiVirus, click on "Full Scan."
3. Click on the "Scan" button to begin.

Finding A Computer Virus

If the anti-virus software discovers a virus on your computer, the software attempts to clean the file. If it is unable to clean the file, the anti-virus software quarantines the infected file.

Virus Protection Best Practices

Most computer viruses are transmitted via e-mailed attachments. These infected e-mails are designed to get you to open the infected attachment.

• Do not open any files attached to an e-mail from an unknown or suspicious source.
• Do not open an attachment to an e-mail unless you know what it is, even if it comes from someone you know. Some viruses can propagate using someone’s address book.
• Do not download any files from strangers.
• When in doubt, err on the side of caution and delete any suspicious e-mails.
• Do not open an e-mail attachment that end in .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif and .scr files. There is a very good chance that it is a virus.
   

Many of the viruses today create e-mails that appear to be sent from someone who did not actually send the e-mail. This means that you must be very careful about what attachments you open.