IT Support Center

Virus News and Updates - Virus Primer

A Virus Primer

• Get the latest alerts on viruses and virus hoaxes from Sophos -- now bilingual
• What's a virus?
• How easy is it to get a virus?
• What should I do if I get a virus here at IUN?
• Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.1
• What's a virus definition?
• Virus hoaxes -- Don't forward them
• How can I verify that it is a hoax?

The IU Knowledge Base has more than 7,500 answers to computing questions so (of course) they have information on viruses. Below are links that will get you started.

PC Virus Primer - Macintosh Virus Primer

What is a virus?

According to Webopedia - the definition of a virus is a program or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. Viruses can also replicate themselves. All computer viruses are manmade. A simple virus that can make a copy of itself over and over again is relatively easy to produce. Even such a simple virus is dangerous because it will quickly use all available memory and bring the system to a halt. An even more dangerous type of virus is one capable of transmitting itself across networks and bypassing security systems.

The basic rule of thumb for e-mail viruses is that they will come as an attachment to the message. If you are not expecting an e-mail attachment or do not know who sent the e-mail, don't open the attachment and delete the e-mail.

Check out the Sophos "Latest 10 virus alerts" Table.

How easy is it to get a virus?

Perhaps the easiest or most common way to get a computer virus is opening an e-mail attachment. If there is an attachment on an e-mail and you either:

a. don't know the person
                  or
b. aren't expecting anything with an attachment

then don't open the attachment. Simply delete the e-mail.

If you open the attachment and your computer becomes infected, you have also compromised the safety of other computers on the network on and off campus. Many viruses send e-mail to all of the addresses listed in your e-mail address book as well as your 'Sent Mail' folder. And along with that e-mail, it will send a virus (and, as an added 'bonus', maybe a confidential document of yours as well). Thus you have helped to spread the virus, compromise your own confidential documents, and also compromised the same among others on and off campus. Then perhaps the virus will overwrite or erase everything on your hard drive so that it can never be recovered.

Just delete the e-mail.

What should I do if I get a virus here at IUN?

Call The IT Support Center immediately at HELP (4357). Do not shut your computer down or take any other action (there may be information that can assist analysis). The IT Support Center personnel will step you through what actions are to be taken.

If it is after The IT Support Center hours, shut down your computer. If you cannot access the 'Start' button to go through the normal procedure, then use the power button on the tower or simply unplug the tower from the power source and call The IT Help Desk first thing the next morning.

Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.1

Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.1 is an application that detects and hopefully destroys a virus should you activate one. For those on the Windows 2000 operating system here on campus, Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition is a basic application in the IUN build. It is set to automatically contact the Symantec site and update the virus definition files on a regular basis.

The help files within Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition, as with any application, are a good place to start if you have questions on how the software works.

Remember that the best defense against loss of data is to back up your vital documents regularly on removable media. We typically recommend using Zip disks since they are more reliable than the floppy disks and the vast majority of computers on campus now have Zip drives.

For your home computing needs, the latest edition of Norton is available on the IUWare CD. You may also download the Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.1 from the iuware site.

What's a virus definition?

A 'virus definition' is an addition to antivirus software that has up-to-date information on the latest viruses. These are typically available as a free download when you purchase and install an antivirus program on your computer. The program will come with a very long list of definitions already installed but since the people who make viruses change and alter the code of existing viruses, your antivirus software must be updated regularly (typically, once a week) so that it can find and eliminate these new variations and strains.

The update is set automatically for computers on IU Northwest Campus. At home, you should be sure it is either set to update automatically, or do it manually. Click on ALL Programs, Symantec Client Security, Symantec Antivirus Client to run the program. Under Virus Definition File, click on live update to get the latest virus definitions.

The Symantec AntiVirus Client software is available on the IUWare CD and may be purchased by students, staff, faculty, and administration members at the IUN Bookstore for $5.

Virus hoaxes -- Don't forward them

I just got an e-mail from a very smart and trusted friend of mine that says there's a virus that will destroy all of our computers. It must be true because it's been forwarded all over. I'm going to forward it to everyone on campus and in the IU system. Okay?

The short answer is 'No, it's not okay because it's a hoax.'

How can you tell?

If there is a virus warning concerning the IUN campus and the IU system, it will come from an IU entity and will not list the names of 100 people to whom the e-mail has already been forwarded. University Information Technology Services, commonly referred to as UITS, will likely be the source of a legitimate virus information for the IU system. At IUN, The IT Support Center is the source.

Well, I'm going to forward it anyway.

By forwarding these e-mails, you are contributing to the disinformation surrounding viruses (and other issues) as well as wasting other people's time (not to mention trying their patience). It can also lead people to take actions that can harm their computer systems (see Virus News and Updates - Hoaxes). Further, you are actually helping the spread of genuine viruses by helping people get in the habit of ignoring any e-mail that mentions a virus. Just delete the message.

How can I verify that it is a hoax?

There are various websites where you can find up-to-date information concerning virus hoaxes (or contact The IT Support Center).

• Dept. of Energy - Computer Incident Advisory Capability "Hoaxbusters"
• Symantec Corporation Virus Hoaxes
• VMyths.com - Site dedicated to virus hoaxes
• List of well-known virus hoaxes from Hoaxbusters

Check out the Sophos "Top 10 virus hoaxes" Table.