SEARCH
headerimage

Virus Protection

Antivirus


Virus Information

One of the biggest problems any computer user faces is a computer virus. Understanding what a virus is, how to know if your system is infected, and how to protect your computer is critical for keeping your computer and other computers on our network working properly. Below we have provided several links that will inform you and give you the solutions you need to keep your computer safe.

The ITS Department at Nazareth College recommends the following for all computer users on campus. If you do not have anti-virus software, you need to purchase and install it as soon as possible. Once you have this software, you should get in the habit of updating the virus definitions weekly and running full hard drive scans monthly. Most anti-virus software has the ability to automate the definition updates as well as the ability to schedule weekly scans of your hard drive.

Proactive Prevention:

  • Install virus protection software: Click here for information about purchasing and installing antivirus software.
  • Update your virus definitions: Virus protection is only as good as your last update.  Remember that your anti-virus software cannot catch viruses released since the last time you updated the definition files. The most effective way to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date is to use the auto-updates feature.
  • Never open documents attached to e-mail messages unless you are expecting a document from the individual who sent you the message. If you are not expecting a document from that particular person, contact them and find out if they actually intended to send you the document. If they did not, their computer is probably infected with a virus.
  • Do not open any .exe files or files with double extensions (e.g. "This is for you.txt.pif" ) attached to an e-mail message. When you receive an attachment like this, first save the file without opening it, use your anti-virus software to scan the file. If the file is clean, you may open it.
  • When using Outlook or Outlook Express – never have the Preview Pane or Auto Preview enabled. Enabling these options causes Outlook or Outlook Express to automatically open and display attachments.
  • Do not attach files to e-mail messages unless you are absolutely certain that your computer is not infected. If you're not sure that your computer is virus-free, paste the text of the file you wish to attach into the e-mail message itself. Text in the body of an e-mail message CANNOT spread viruses.
  • Not all virus warnings are valid. There are many hoaxes out there. Research the suspected virus or contact the User Support Line (ext. 2111) before you attempt to alert others.
  • Always scan your floppy disk, Zip Disks and CDs before using them.

Symptoms of Virus Infection:

  • Your system slows down
  • Files disappear
  • You cannot open certain files.
  • Programs that cease to work correctly
  • Continuous system crashes
  • People e-mail you saying they received a virus from you
  • An unusual increase in the size of files
  • An unusual or impossible date or time; for example, a minute or second value higher than 59.
  • Duplicated files
  • On-screen messages
  • Upon booting the system, the screen displays an unexpected graphic such as a famous person or a holiday symbol you did not create.

ITS Online Anti-Virus Resources