Computer Virus and Spyware FAQ
Computer Viruses
Q: What exactly is a virus?
A: Follow this link for
more virus info than you know what to do with.
Q: Should I be worried
about viruses in the labs?
A: You should take
proper
precautions. Macro viruses, found mainly in word documents, are the
most
common type found in labs. Open Word documents by following the advice
in the next question. You should be safe from most viruses that
are currently available.
Q: How can I prevent the
acquisition of viruses?
A: Never open an email attachment
that is not expected, especially from an unknown source. If Microsoft Word
asks if you want to activate macros when opening a file, answer no, and
then proceed to check the file for viruses. Regularly scan your files for
viruses. This can be done at a lab machine by clicking on the virus scan
icon under the disk utilities menu. Make Backups.
This is not only good advice for virus protection but good advice in general.
Q: Where can I get my
own virus scanning software?
A: If you have a valid MyID account, visit the UGA Office of Information Security's website (http://www.infosec.uga.edu/uds/download.php) to obtain installation instructions and download antivirus software for your home computer.
Q: What should I do if
I have a virus?
A: You can either remove
it yourself using F-Secure located in the disk utilities menu in the labs
or one of the help desk workers is happy to assist you.
Spyware
Q. What is spyware?
A. Spyware is usually advertising software that gets installed on your
computer without your knowledge. Companies use it to pop up ads on your
computer, track your Internet usage, and gather other personal
information about you. These programs are usually not written very well
and tend to cause a lot of problems.
Besides invading your
privacy, these programs often cause problems with Internet Explorer and
other web browsers. If you have a lot of spyware on your computer,
chances are that one of these programs has affected your Internet
browsing capabilities.
Q:
What are the warning signs that spyware might have been loaded on my PC?
A. If your computer is experiencing any of the following symptoms, you might have spyware:
- When you start your browser, the home page has changed to something
undesirable. You change it back manually, but before long you find that
it has changed back again.
- You get pop-up advertisements when
your browser is not running or when
your system is not even connected to the Internet, or you get pop-up
ads that address you by name.
- A search toolbar or other browser toolbar
appears even though you
didn't request or install it. Your attempts to remove it fail, or it
comes back after removal.
- Your system runs noticeably slower than
it did before. A new item appears in your Favorites list without
your putting it there.
- Your computer is unusually unstable (computer crashes more than usual).
Q. How can I get rid of spyware that has been installed on my PC?
A. Spyware is
practically impossible to track down and delete through normal means,
there are several free tools available online to help deal with them.
We recommend either of the following two tools:
Q. How can I protect myself against spyware?
A. Visit the UGA Office of Information Security's website (http://www.infosec.uga.edu/uds/spywarepreventionchecklist.php) and review the Spyware Prevention Checklist.
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