Tips to Protect Yourself Against Computer Viruses

Even if our warning process was absolutely optimum, for most new viruses there is still a window of a few hours before it is possible for us to realize that the virus is loose, to conduct research on what it looks like and does, to try blocking the virus, to write a good warning, and to disseminate a message. In that “window of opportunity,” most recent, fast-spreading viruses can enter the FIU e-mail system and do quite a bit of damage to unsuspecting users. Keep in mind also that we do not have the resources to be able to warn about every single virus-- only the most serious ones are candidates.

It is imperative, therefore, for each of you to try to assist in the virus defense process.

Helpful Steps
Protect your computer by following these steps:

1. Install anti-virus protection on your computer. FIU students, faculty and staff may obtain McAfee software for free or at a discounted rate - depending on where and how the software is installed. Click here for more infomation

2. Keep virus signature definitions updated (daily if possible)

3. Scan your computer for viruses weekly

4. Some viruses do not need e-mail or attachments to spread; keep your system’s operating system and applications software ( like Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, etc.) properly patched. Information on how to do this is available at http://uts.fiu.edu [Click on ‘Virus News’, then ‘Patches & Updates’]

5. Be very careful about opening suspicious e-mail attachments, even from people you know. Many viruses can forge the sender’s address. NEVER open e-mail attachments from an unknown or untrustworthy source. Many viruses hide themselves inside attachments; when you open (click on) the attachment, you are infected.

If you would like to read the most current information UTS has on a virus outbreak, go to the UTS web site at http://uts.fiu.edu. Look at the ‘UTS Alerts’.

For more general tips and information on viruses and hoaxes, visit our ‘Virus News’ page, linkable from http://uts.fiu.edu

For detailed, current information on all known viruses, link to one or more of the following sites:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/
http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/
http://f-secure.com/virus-info/