NSU Virus Information

updated: September 22, 2005

As computer viruses become more prevalent, it becomes more important to take extra precautions in protecting your PC. The contents of this website should help a user take the necessary steps to protect their PC.

Step 1. Patch It.

Many viruses exploit vulnerabilities in software such as Microsoft Windows. It is important to check for updates and patches on a regular basis.

Microsoft Windows Update Site

Step 2. Protect It.

Anti-virus software is your best defense against viruses. Unfortunately, just having anti-virus software if not enough. Virus definitions must be updated regularly and you should run a full system scan periodically.

Most anti-virus manufacturers provide virus definition updates online. Below, we have included links to some of the most popular anti-virus products.

If your anti-virus software has expired or you are unable to purchase AV software, Alwil Software offers a free version of their avast! anti-virus solution. It is a small download that is very easy to install. Most importantly, it is free for non-commercial use. Visit the avast! website if you would like more information about this software.

avast! 4 Home Edition

We also strongly recommend the use of a personal firewall, such as the one included with Windows XP. A personal firewall can protect your system from a variety of attacks and will reduce the risk of being vulnerable to 'as yet' undiscovered flaws.

Good passwords are a must. Make sure that all the user accounts on your PC have a strong password, especially for administrator accounts. Blank, or easy to guess passwords are simple to exploit.

Step 3. Clean It.

Patching and updating software is critical, but routine maintenance is a must. Run a full virus scan on a regular basis to make certain no malicious software is running on your PC.

If you need any assistance or wish to report a virus incident, please call the NSU Online Computing Help Desk at 4357.