Topic 1: Virus Protection


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Recent statistics show that an unprotected computer can be infected with a virus, worm, or Trojan in less than five minutes after being placed on a network.

Worms and Trojans are the most common forms of infection and/or compromise. They are dependant on computer systems that have not been protected with the most current security patches released by operating system and application vendors. These neglected applications and operating systems provide easy targets for hackers to exploit in order to gain greater access for their criminal activity.

Some viruses prey on uninformed computer users. They do this by embedding attachments in appealing looking e-mails hoping to trick the user into activating the virus, worm, or Trojan. Viruses can also be transmitted during file sharing using Instant Messaging services. Users should never open an attachment in an e-mail or a file received through IM unless they know and trust the sender. Viruses can come from a friend or relative as easily as from a stranger. A common indicator that a virus is attached to an email is the presence of inadequate or misspelled text or short phrases like, "Attention!!!" or "Your file is attached." in the body of the message. An easy solution for this is to be suspicious of all attachments and shared files, even those from a known or trusted source.

In addition to patching, the most important tool a user can have to protect their computer from viruses is anti-virus software. This software protects a computer system from receiving viruses and from distributing a virus if the system becomes infected. The good news is that the University of Tennessee supplies free anti-virus software to all faculty, staff, and students. You can download the software online at http://antivirus.utk.edu. Please take advantage of this FREE service.

NOTE: After you have installed your anti-virus software it is extremely important to keep it up to date.

Remember, the three most important things you can do to protect your computer from virus infection are:

patch the operating system (OS) and all other applications installed on your computer
be careful and selective in which attachments you open
install the free anti-virus software from UT on your computer as soon as possible -- preferably before attaching it to a network.

Interested in Exploring More?

Here are some links with more information for you to consider:

Stay Informed of current virus threats
Avoiding IM viruses
AOL IM Virus FAQ
IM Virus

IT Security Awareness Training Topics

Virus Protection	Passwords	Storing Sensitive Data	Spyware	Email Hoaxes


Desktop Security	Phishing	Firewalls	File Sharing and Copyright