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Computer Viruses
Most viruses are small programs spread through e-mail attachments, although in some rare instances just visiting a website can
cause your computer to become infected. Staying current with your antivirus software is the best protection in these cases.
Since e-mail viruses are most often spread through attachments, simple preventive steps can be taken:
- Do not open any files attached to e-mail received from an unknown or suspicious source (note, however, that malicious
e-mails can "spoof" known senders).
- Do not open any files attached to e-mail unless you are expecting the file(s)
- Many of these viruses use fairly short/bland wording that could apply to most of us (e.g., Hello, Report Attached,
Important, etc.) and lure us to open the message and its attached files. Again, if there's an attachment you're not
expecting, check with the sender before opening it.
- Suspicious files (whether downloaded from the Web or received as attachments) can and should also be scanned before
opening. You can do a quick scan of individual files (or folders) by right clicking the item and then selecting ‘scan for
viruses’ from the pop-up menu.
All ITS-managed computers in the SMG building (e.g., in offices, labs, etc.) are running Norton antivirus
software. These computers are scanned daily and virus definitions are updated regularly by ITS.
For other computers, BU faculty, staff and students can download and install a free version of the
McAfee antivirus software provided by the BU site license.
Antivirus software is REQUIRED on all computers connected to the BU Network.
FAQ Topics
General Virus Information
What should I do if I think my computer has been infected with a virus?
Could a virus warning be a hoax?
SMG Computers
Do I need to ensure that my office computer has the latest antivirus software installed?
Do I need to regularly update the virus definitions for my antivirus software on my office computer?
Should I scan my office computer on a regular basis?
What should I do if Norton Antivirus detects a virus on my computer?
Home Computers
What precautions can I take for my home computer?
FAQ Answers
General Virus Information
What should I do if I think my computer has been infected with a virus?
When in doubt, contact your IT resources at the University. If you are an
SMG faculty or staff member and you have
scanned your computer and are concerned about a potential virus, or if you
are unable to disinfect your machine, contact the
ITS Helpdesk for assistance.
SMG students can contact the Personal Computing Support Center (PCSC) for assistance with their personal computer
(353-7272) or the
ITS Helpdesk.
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Could a virus warning be a hoax?
Most definitely. Some fraudulent virus warnings may instruct you to delete important parts of your system, so it's good to be wary
even if the warning has been passed to you by a trusted source. Check
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html for an authoritative listing of known virus hoaxes.
SMG Computers
Do I need to ensure that my office computer has the latest antivirus software installed?
No. ITS makes certain that all Staff, Faculty, and Lab computers in the SMG building have a current version of Norton Antivirus
software installed.
Do I need to regularly update the virus definitions for my antivirus software on my office computer?
No. ITS takes care of this for all SMG-managed computers. Norton Antivirus software works by scanning all the files on a computer
and comparing them against a list of known viruses - the virus definition list. This list must be updated on a regular basis, and
ITS does so for all computers in the SMG building on a regular basis. This is done over the SMG network, freeing faculty and
staff from having to update virus definitions themselves.
Should I scan my office computer on a regular basis?
No. ITS takes care of scanning all SMG-managed computers over the network.
What should I do if Norton Antivirus detects a virus on my computer?
If Norton AntiVirus software has detected a virus on your workstation the software will either repair the infected files right
away or it will quarantine them. Quarantined files are infected files that could not be repaired and are therefore set aside in an
isolated area on your computer.
Both repaired and quarantined files can be viewed by going to the View menu in the Norton Antivirus application window. Right
clicking on the file within the Quarantine window and choosing Delete Permanently from the pop-up menu can delete quarantined
files.
In some cases quarantined files can be restored rather than deleted. However this could involve further steps (such as the
installation of a removal tool), so you may need to contact the
ITS Helpdesk for assistance.
Home Computers
What precautions can I take for my home computer?
Boston University has a site license for McAfee Antivirus software which is free for& all members of the BU community for
to download and install. To download this program as well as to view other antivirus software options, go to
http://www.bu.edu/pcsc/virus/software/.
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