Keep your computer (and our network) virus-free!
Are you worried about your computer becoming infected with a virus? Don't want to spend a small fortune on anti-virus software? Then today's your lucky day!
University Information Technology has coordinated a large volume purchase of anti-virus software from Sophos in order to encourage the widespread use of comprehensive anti-virus programs on the University's network. This software offers a broad range of protection for desktops, file servers, and e-mail servers and gateways.
Most of the University is now participating (view the anti-virus volume license participation list to see who’s taking part.)
Please join this effort to keep our network virus-free.
- Download Sophos desktop anti-virus
software for PCs and Macs (FREE for all University students and faculty within participating departments)
Faculty members: Is your department not included in the license participation list?
ATTENTION: Old anti-virus products are no longer supported
As of December 18, 2006, the old anti-virus software, TrendMicro Anti-virus, is no longer supported. If you still have TrendMicro Anti-virus, please download the new Sophos anti-virus software from the link above in order to have up-to-date anti-virus protection.
Anti-virus Strategy: Why it's important to be comprehensive
Viruses (and worms and trojan horses and other "executable content")
pose a threat not only to your computer's data, but also to other users
and computers sharing files, receiving email, or running network
services.
That's why it's important to not only install anti-virus software, but also to make sure that this protection stay installed, appropriately configured, and always be up-to-date. By installing the anti-virus software provided by University IT, these measures will be automatically taken care of for you, making less work for you as well as offering proper protection for your personal computer and the University's network.
Still unsure of the benefits of a comprehensive anti-virus strategy? Compare options in the chart below.
A Comprehensive Anti-virus Strategy includes: |
A Comprehensive Anti-virus Strategy is better than: |
- High volume licensing of desktop anti-virus products which assures that all desktops are covered at the lowest possible cost.
|
- Small volume or commercial purchases of desktop anti-virus products are more expensive.
|
- Automatic updates of anti-virus patterns sent directly to computers, which ensure that the software is installed correctly and is current. This also offers the ability to verify and assess the completeness of coverage.
|
- Small volume purchases result in de-synchronized subscription expirations which have costly renewal fees. Often times, computers no longer have subscription updates, but their owners don't realize it.
- Independently-configured individual desktops also offer little assurance that the software is functioning correctly and no ability to assess the proper use of this software.
|
- Mail server coverage (It’s hard to ensure that 100% of desktops are covered and updated, so it’s best to prevent mail systems from becoming hosts of viruses which can be sent to other mail servers.)
|
- Coverage of some of the virus propagation methods but not all leaves systems open to an increasing number of viruses with multiple attack mechanisms.
|
- Mail gateway coverage, at least in front of mail servers which have no native anti-virus protection of their own.
|
 Back to top
|
