Antivirus Letter to Modem Users (Student, Staff and Faculty)

July 2004

Dear University dial-up modem user,

You are receiving this email only because you have been identified as a dial-up modem user of the University network, not due to any specific problem reported for your computer. (Note: a related message concerning the need to patch Windows software is being sent separately.)

Recently there has been a rash of computer virus and worm infections originating with dial-up modem users that are infecting other computers on the University network. We are sending this message to ask for your help by checking to make sure that you have installed anti-virus software on your dial-in home or laptop computer and that the anti-virus signatures are updated frequently.

In addition to being the right thing to do to protect you and your colleagues from viruses, you should also be aware that the University anti-virus standard, which is part of the Acceptable Use policy, requires anti-virus or filtering software configured according to relevant standards on desktop computers attached to the network. This includes home computers. See http://www.umn.edu/oit/ and click on "policies".

The most common desktop operating systems are Microsoft Windows (various versions) and Apple Macintosh. These desktop computers should use anti- virus software even if e-mail isn't used on the computer. Although e-mail is a common source of virus infection, it is not the only one; network and web page propagation have also been used by recent viruses.

Home users often get a "free trial" version of anti-virus software with a new computer. If they do not pay the license fee to continue to get the updated signature definitions from the vendor, they are not adequately protected. Since new viruses are created every day, the signature definitions need to be updated frequently (at least weekly). Although this updating is automatic in most of the latest versions, it needs to be scheduled for a time when the computer is usually attached to the Internet or run manually at least once per week when connected (recommended for dialup users).

If you are using a Mac or Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP PC you can (and should) download a copy of Symantec/Norton Anti-Virus. Further information and the download links are available at: http://www.umn.edu/adcs/help/virus/

Note that downloading the free (i.e. licensed by the University) software on a dial-up line can take a long time. So other options to consider are downloading the software on campus to a CD or buying a copy on a CD for $6 from any of the technology helplines. If you have questions, please call the University technology helpline at 612-301-4357 (1-HELP). See http://www.umn.edu/adcs/help/

Thank you for your assistance in protecting the University community.

Steve Cawley, Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer