New Programs and Updates
The following new programs and updates have been recently added to the Downloads area -
For MS Windows -
VirusScan v8.5i has been released for the MS Windows Vista operating system. Previous versions of VirusScan will not install on Windows Vista (and may cause system instability).
VirusScan v8.0i has been updated to Patch version 14 - see the downloads area for information and update software.
Also check the downloads area for information about installing VirusScan v8.0i on new Dell notebook systems.
For Apple Macintosh -
Virex v7.7 is now available for Mac OS X systems version 10.4.x and later.
VirusScan v8.6 is now available for Intel-based Macintosh systems running Mac OS v10.4.6 (Tiger) or v10.5 (Leopard) operating system.
Antivirus Information
By nature, the world of AntiVirus protection changes every day. To protect yourself always backup your data, run the latest version of the AntiVirus software available (for free) here, and set your AntiVirus software to scan your computer and check for updates regularly. For the latest alerts, check our news section and subscribe to the VU AntiVirus Email List.
If you believe you are experiencing damage or file loss due to a computer virus, do not attempt to do anything further with your system - do not even shut it down! Disconnect the network cable from the system and contact your Local Support Provider or the ITS Help Desk for assistance. Medical Center users should contact the Medical Center Help Desk for assistance.
Brief Introduction to Viruses, Trojans, and Worms
Computer viruses are basically program modifications made to certain files that are designed to replicate on their own (say, when the host program file is executed). Viruses may or may not have a "payload" - a set of instructions that may be executed only under certain conditions, such as a particular date each year or after so many file "infections". These instructions can range anywhere from displaying a message on the screen to reformatting your hard drive or otherwise disabling (and, yes, damaging) your system. All viruses (destructive or not) rob your system of computing resources and have the potential of interfering with the normal functioning of your system.
Another group of malicious programming are known as trojans (named for the Trojan horse from ancient Greek history). These programs are installed on a system by an unsuspecting user either thinking that he or she is running some other type of program (e.g. a computer game), or as a result of some other activity such as reading an attachment to an e-mail message. Once installed, such programs may allow others to access and virtually "take over" the system across the network. Other trojans may be set up to automatically send mail messages or other network traffic (including system passwords!) while the system owner is unaware of what is going on.
A third type of malicious program are computer worms. Worms are able to replicate, but do so by using the network (usually e-mail) to send copies of themselves to other systems. While not currently as common as viruses they are a growing threat. Like viruses, they take up computer and networking resources and generally causes problems for all systems they infect.
Many of these malicious programs, often referred to as malware, exhibits characteristics of two or all three program types. For instance the virus known as "Melissa" reproduced on a user's system as a virus, used e-mail to send itself to other systems as a worm, and depended on users of those systems to read the e-mail thus behaving like a trojan.
Antivirus programs are available that are designed to detect and remove or disable most of these viruses. Once properly installed, these programs can scan your system for viruses and in most cases remove them from your system. (Some types of viruses cannot be removed, except by deleting the infected files and replacing them with uninfected copies.) These programs then remain on the system to automatically scan incoming files (e.g., from a diskette or across the network) for new viruses.
Another type of problem that has been seen on campus are hoaxes. These are e-mail messages either warning the recipient of an impending virus or other disaster, or promises the recipient of some reward if he or she would only "forward the message to everybody they know". In most cases, there is no basis to these warnings/give-aways, and the message itself becomes a type of "virus" as each person replicates and passes on the message, and each of those people replicates it and passes it on, etc., etc., etc. Most antivirus programs are not designed to detect hoaxes since they do not attempt to replicate or damage systems on their own (they just depend on the individual to do that for them!).
Unfortunately, it has been estimated that some 200 new viruses or variations of existing viruses are released each week While most of these viruses do not circulate widely, the fact that a few do requires that these antivirus programs be updated frequently to maintain system security. Through licensing arrangements, Vanderbilt's Information Technology Services (ITS) makes available anti-virus software that can be easily updated (with new updates being released weekly) at no charge to the Vanderbilt community, including the students, faculty, and staff. The programming may be set up to allow these updates to be performed automatically.
Additional information about viruses and computer security issues in general may be found at the website of the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), currently hosted at Carnegie-Mellon's Software Engineering Institute.
