Frequently Asked Questions about Computer Viruses and Protection

Table of Contents

* What is a computer virus?
* What is anti-virus software?
* Why do I need anti-virus software on my computer?
* If I receive a message that I have sent a virus to someone does that mean I am infected?
* I use a free online virus scanner, am I protected?
* Is my anti-virus software up-to-date?
* Where do I get anti-virus software?
* What if I choose not to protect my system?
* What else do I need to do?
* What protections are in place at TTU?
* More Info and Links…

What is a computer virus?

A computer virus is a malicious computer program which replicates and is intent on causing harm to an infected computer or to a network.  It may arrive in an email attachment or through shared files or through other flaws discovered by hackers in the programs running on your computer.  While some malicious programs may be called viruses,  and others worms, or Trojans, the intent is to cause harm or disruptions to your computer or your computer network and all will be referred to here as viruses.

What is anti-virus software?

Anti-virus software is a computer program that runs continuously on your system checking for viruses of all types. Most programs will also scan all your incoming and outgoing emails to ensure they are clean of viruses.
 

Why do I need anti-virus software?

The Internet can be a dangerous place for any computer that connects to it.  A computer virus can enter a system in a number of ways. Security flaws in email programs, IRC chat programs, and instant messengers can allow hackers to infect your computer with a virus or with remote control software.  Browsing the web can even infect your computer.  Infected systems run the risk of losing important data or sharing private information with the world.

One common way to become infected is to open an infected attachment.    An email virus will often create email messages based on addresses located in the address book and internet cache and may include documents and photos from the infected system. 

Another danger is that remote control software could allow a hacker remote access to your system and files. Such remote access could not only compromise your own data, but also allow your system to be used in an attack on other systems.

If I receive a message that I have sent a virus to someone does that mean I am infected?

Not necessarily, since many common email viruses will gather information from the address books on infected machines and then generate a message with those email addresses inserted into both the "to" and "from" fields.  You may received automated messages from servers around the world that you sent someone a message with a virus.  This does not mean that you are necessarily infected, but rather that somewhere on the internet an infected computer had your email address in it. 

Your best protection is vigilance, current up-to-date antivirus software, and an operating system in which all Critical Updates have been installed.  Each time a new virus appears, there will be a few hours of susceptibility before the new virus definitions can be developed and then downloaded from your Antivirus program provider.  That is why you should NOT open email attachments when they are unexpected or from an unknown source.

I use a free online virus scanner, am I protected?

Absolutely not!  Online virus scanners are, at best, a tool to demonstrate why you need anti-virus software installed on your system. Because these free scanners do not run continuously on your system, they can only find the infection after the damage has been done.  More information on free anti-virus software is here.

Is my anti-virus software up-to-date?

MicroSupport often receives calls from people who have anti-virus software on their system and who assumed that it was working. However, their virus update subscription had expired. It is important to understand that new viruses are discovered each week and your anti-virus software must be continuously updated to catch these new infections. Most new computers will ship with trial versions of anti-virus software that will update automatically for a period of three to six months. After that, you need to purchase a subscription to the updates on a yearly basis.  If you purchased your software from a retailer, it may come with one year of updates. To see if your software is updating properly, open the program and look at the Virus Definition File date.  If it is older than two weeks, then you have a problem.  Try to manually update your Virus Definition Files to insure that your program is working properly.

Where do I get anti-virus software?

The  TTU Virus Protection policy states:  Centrally provided virus protection software will be run on all computers connected to the TTU Network.   Faculty and staff campus machines should already have Symantec Antivirus installed.  If you have a question concerning this, please contact MicrSupport@tntech.edu

For computers at home, you can purchase anti-virus software from any retailer that sells computer software or from online retailers.  Most anti-virus software manufacturers sell their products as an instant download from their web sites.  Symantec's Norton AntiVirus is used on campus and has been very stable.  Well known programs are available from McAfee, F-Prot, Panda, and Trend Micro, as well as others.  See more information on free anti-virus software.

Remember that whichever product you choose you must renew it annually.

What if I choose not to protect my system?

If you are a student on ResNet, you are responsible for the actions of your computer. So if your system causes damage to another due to a virus infection or hack, you are liable.  Information Technology Services is actively tracking down systems on campus that are infected and notifying the owners. Users whose systems continue to be infected will be subject to disciplinary action that could result in the loss of ResNet privileges.    See more information on free anti-virus software.

What protections are in place at TTU?

All email received for TTU accounts is first screened for suspect attachments.  Messages with certain kinds of attachments are rejected,  such as .exe files.  However, since not all attachments are rejected, some viruses may still enter the campus.  Infected machines are blocked from the network as soon as possible.  However, there must be a current antivirus program on each computer connected to the TTU network as a matter of policy and as common sense computing practice.

What else do I need to do?

Perform regular backups. Virus infections often destroy data on an individual's computer. Without proper backups, recovery of destroyed files may be impossible.

More info and links…

* Information on anti-virus programs
* About.Com’s Anti-virus site
* HouseCall Online Scanner (Quick check to see if you are infected.)
* Other Security Tips