Computer Viruses

The Information Technology department requires on-campus students to use up-to-date antivirus software on their computer. SAU provides Symantec Antivirus software.

• What are viruses, worms and Trojan Horses?
• How do I protect my computer from getting viruses?
• What is an antivirus program?
• Where do I find a virus protection program?
• Do I have to use Symantec Antivirus if I already have anti-virus software installed?
• What if I'm running MacOS, or another operating besides Windows?
• How do I update Symantec Antivirus?

What are viruses, worms and Trojan Horses?
A virus is a program that replicates itself, usually by attaching itself to other files and programs. A worm is a program makes copies of itself without user interaction, usually exploiting operating system vulnerabilities. Trojan horse programs do not replicate nor make copies of themselves, but rely on other "manual" methods of distribution; Trojans are typically disguised as legit software. We use the term "viruses" on this page to cover all forms of infections.

All viruses are different and spread in a variety of ways. Some examples include:

• email attachments
• instant messaging links and attachments
• compromised web servers
• Usenet news groups
• IRC channels
• floppy diskettes
• file downloads (many Trojans are embedded or disguised as other files)

Software downloaded via P2P may disguised as a safe program such as a serial number generator, "cool" movie, "funny" picture, screen saver, or other legit software. Appearances can be very deceiving as icons and names of programs can be easily changed.

How do I protect my computer from getting viruses?
Information Technology has put together a jump start guide to help you protect your computer. This document is full of useful tips for safer browsing habits.

A good start in protecting your computer is to have an antivirus virus program and keep it up-to-date.

The simplest thing you can do to keep your computer secure is to become skeptical of "free" software, "funny" pictures, and "cool" websites. P2P software can be loaded with spyware causing unwanted and annoying pop-ups or sending your personal information to an unknown 3rd party. Software downloaded using P2P applications should never be trusted since you do no know what has been changed by the person making the software available. Avoid websites sent to you in emails or IM applications; this technique has become a very popular method for distributing the latest virus. Always remember that a program running on your computer has full control to do whatever the author designed it to do, no antiviurs program or firewall can be 100% effective.

What is an antivirus program?
An antivirus program is designed to protect your computer from possible virus infections. Most viruses are designed to operate in the background in a way that the user will not notice. Virus protection programs search for, detect, and attempt to remove these viruses. Anti-virus programs must be kept up-to-date to provide adequate protection as new viruses are being created every day.

Where do I find a virus protection program?
The St. Ambrose University IT department has negotiated a license for Symantec Antivirus. This top-rated software is available for FREE to all on-campus students!

Information Technology recommends Grisoft AVG for non-residential students; the personal edition is free.

Do I have to use Symantec Antivirus if I already have antivirus software installed?
Yes; please uninstall your previous antivirus software before installing Symantec Antivirus.

What if I'm running another operating besides Windows or MacOS?
Linux operating systems are not as susceptible to viruses; an anti-virus program is not entirely necessary. However, system security is still very important. Please contact the Information Technology Department if you have concerns regarding security on a Linux system.

How do I update Symantec Antivirus?
Navigate to Start -> Programs -> Symantec Client Security -> Symantec Antivirus.  Click "Live Update in the application window. Follow the steps as listed by the application.  We highly recommend scheduling automatic updates.