Scenario: Preventing a virus

You heard something about a new virus that was affecting lots of computers on campus. You’re worried that it might get to your computer, but don’t know how to keep it from hurting your machine.

What you can do

There are two ways you can prevent viruses from reaching your computer: antivirus software and anti-spyware products. In addition to these, make sure you keep your operating system up to date with the latest patches.

Antivirus software

New computer viruses are released and discovered almost every day. Installing antivirus software on your computer and keeping it updated is the best insurance you have to protect your computer. CITES makes this software available at no cost to students, staff, and faculty who have a current NetID and NetID password.

Anti-spyware software

Although not a virus, spyware is a type of software program that is installed and run on your computer without your knowledge or consent. Typically, such programs gather information about you while you use your computer. These programs can also download files, run programs, and change your system settings.

Anti-spyware software is designed to protect your computer from spyware in the same way that antivirus software protects your computer from viruses. Fortunately, antivirus software and anti-spyware software are now available in the same protective suite.

Antivirus and antispyware software for Windows

If you use Windows, you can download VirusScan on your computer from the Software WebStore. The UIUC-configured VirusScan package is configured to automatically check for updates from an on-campus source every day. Once the package is installed on your computer, a small shield icon will appear in the lower-right corner of your screen.

VirusScan 8.5i and later versions contain both anti-spyware and antivirus software. If you have a version earlier than 8.5i, you can upgrade for more complete computer protection.

For more information, see the Windows section of the antivirus documentation.

Antivirus and antispyware software for Macs

If you use a Mac OS X computer, you can download antivirus and antispyware software from the Software WebStore. After installation, you’ll need to configure your software to run and to check for updates. You must be logged in as an administrator to download any updates and new definitions.

For more information, see the Mac section of the antivirus documentation.