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Virus Information

The computer science department uses virus detection tools to protect computers, user accounts and email accounts. All clients and servers managed by systems staff are protected by anti-virus software that is kept up to date and patched at all times. If you have any questions or suspect your computer may be infected with a virus, send email to immediately.

ADCS provides Symantec Client Security software to students, faculty, and staff of the University of Minnesota. There is no charge for this software as long as you agree to the terms of the license agreement. For more information, see the Virus, AntiVirus, and Firewall Information page. At the bottom of this page, you will also find a list of helpful links regarding security and virus protection.

Facts to keep in mind

1. Always keep your computer patched and protected with anti-virus software. Virus definitions should be updated daily or at least weekly to maintain protection against the latest viruses.

   New viruses and security holes are found all the time. For more information about new viruses go to Symantec Security Response.

2. Modern viruses almost never use the email address of the owner of the infected computer. Complaining to the sender of the virus will rarely solve the problem.

   Most modern viruses spoof the sender and attachment name to make the attachment appear valid. They search the address book of the infected computer for an email address the computer owner has had correspondence with, and use this address as the apparent sender to make the virus harder to trace. Some viruses will then copy a name from a random file on the computer to use as the name of the attachment. This can result in the virus sending itself in an attachment that appears to be related to a project, from a person who is known to be working on that project.

3. Never open an email attachment unless you are expecting to receive that particular attachment from the sender. If you are not sure, call or email the sender to verify that the attachment is valid before opening it.
4. When sending an attachment over email, include a text description of what you are sending and why you are sending it in the body of the email. You should also send a second separate email confirming that the attachment was sent. Doing this will prevent your recipient from mistaking the attachment for a virus.
5. Never use a password on a website received in an email. This is a common form of password and identity theft. If you receive an email that directs you to a site that requests a password, go to the home page of the account to log in and navigate to the site requested from there. If you can't find the page, contact the account administrators.
6. Never install an application that is sent through an email. This is a common way of spreading a virus or breaching the security of a personal computer.
7. If you receive an email warning you of a virus infestation or asking you to delete a file on your computer to prevent the spread of a virus, check a virus threat list before taking any action. Many of these emails are hoaxes, which can be as bad as a virus.

More information

• The Safe Computing page provides information about current threats and ways to secure your computer to prevent infection.
• If your personal machine has already been infected, see the ADCS instructions for dealing with a computer that is infected with a virus.
• Symantec's Security Response page.
• McAfee's Virus Information page.