Hi I’m (student name).  In this lesson we’ll go over some of the things that you should do to keep your computer virus free.

Using the internet is probably something you’ll do everyday here at UB.  While the internet can be fun and extremely useful, harmful computer viruses can enter your hard drive through the internet, deleting your files or using your email to send junk mail to others. Following UB’s basic recommendations for internet safety could make all the difference in keeping your files safe and private. While computers running the Windows platform are the most susceptible to viruses, you should be aware of these recommendations and stay informed of UB’s latest virus protection for whatever platform your computer is running.

For starters, keep your computer’s operating system and other major software up-to-date. Operating systems, along with web browsers contain security holes that can allow viruses onto your computer. Make a practice of regularly using tools such as Windows Update (Windows users)  or Software Update (Mac users) on your desktop to close these holes by installing “patches” or software updates from the software developer.  New viruses and malicious codes are always being updated with new ways to break into your system, so software developers are constantly updating their security patches to keep up.

Make sure you also keep your Antivirus software up to date. If a virus does make it onto your computer, an up-to-date antivirus program can detect and disable it before it can do any damage.  The iconnect@ub Tech Tools program provides students with the latest in firewall and antivirus software. As we mentioned in the Standards and Software video module, Tech Tools are made available during new student orientations and at UBMicro, our on-campus computing store. This software is provided at no additional cost to all students. You’ll also find an updated list of all the Tech Tools software that is also available for download on the iconnect@ub web site.

When your computer is connected to a network, other computers are able to recognize and communicate with your hard drive, and possibly attempt to infect it.  Using a firewall software program can prevent computers from making these unwanted connections and protect you from viruses. Some operating systems such as Windows XP, Mac OSX, and UBLinux contain built-in firewalls that should also be enabled. For off-campus students using a high-speed connection, we recommend that you check with your local ISP on how to configure your modem to provide the maximum protection it offers. Also, install UB’s Virtual Private Network software (UBVPN) in order to connect to UB from a personal computer via a secure, encrypted tunnel. The purpose of this tunnel is to be able to securely send data to and from UB while using a UB wireless connection or a non-UB Internet Service Provider, such as Adelphia or Verizon.

For browsing the internet, consider using a program such as Firefox, which is a dependable software product that is free of many of the vulnerabilities of the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser. For some campus services you need to access a web site designed specifically for Microsoft Explorer, so you should not uninstall it from your computer, but use it with caution.

Some operating systems allow you to configure your computer to automatically download and install new security patches and antivirus software when they become available. If you are uncertain if your operating system has this feature, or if you need help with setting this up, contact the CIT Help Desk or the staff at UBMicro.

All the latest, up-to-date software recommendations are listed in the text section of this lesson. You should review this list and make sure your computer meets all of these requirements before the start of each semester. UB provides students with much of this security software for free through the UB Tech Tools program, available online or at UBMicro. All the tools you need to ensure a safe computing environment are available at the iconnect@ub site, find them at www.buffalo.edu/iconnect/4_tools.htm.

Both UB's Computer Security web site, http://computersecurity.buffalo.edu, and the Tech Tools web site, http://wings.buffalo.edu/computing/software, are good resources to learn more about computer security and the tools that can help keep your computer safe.

Thanks for watching!