ResNet's Terms and Conditions
require customers to use up-to-date anti-virus software on their
computer if NC State provides it for the operating system being
used. Currently, NC State provides Symantec
AntiVirus software for Windows and Apple Macintosh computers,
so all computers on ResNet using Windows or Macintosh computers
must install and use current anti-virus software.
What are Trojan Horses?
A Trojan Horse is a program disguised as normal program, but actually exists to break security and cause damage in some way. They do not spread themselves, they rely on other manual forms of distribution. Trojans are primarily transmitted as malicious files contained in emails or downloaded from websites or P2P software. Computers with compromised security are also susceptible to Trojans.
All Trojan Horses are different. Some exist to steal passwords and allow strangers to control your computer. Other Trojans are created to function as a website or spam email server on a computer. Once a computer is infected with one Trojan, it is much more susceptible to more Trojans and problems.
How do I protect myself from Trojan Horses?
The best way to protect yourself from Trojans and other problems is to practice smart computing. Always keep your computers operating system up to date. If you are running a version of Windows, go to Windows Update and make sure you have all the important patches. It is also very important, and part of ResNet's user policy, to run a virus protection program with current updates. All user accounts with administrative privledges should be protected by a strong password. Never download files from a source you do not trust. Never open email attachments from anyone, unless it is something you are expecting. It is rare for someone to just send a file out of the blue.
How can I get rid of Trojan Horses?
The best way to fix all the problems caused by Trojans and other viruses is to completely format your hard drive and do a full reinstall of your system. This does not just mean reinstalling Windows because that does not completely remove everything from your hard drive, so the problem could still exist.
If you believe you have a Trojan, but aren't sure, you should do a full system scan with an antivirus program, and an anti-Trojan program, such as SwatIt and TDS-3. Even if you scan your system with these products and no Trojans are detected, that does not mean your system is clean. There are still Trojans that are undetectable. The best solution is a full reinstall.
To use SwatIt, first download it and install it with all the default settings. Once you start SwatIt, you will need to:
- 1. Go to the scan tab at the top
- 2. Change the path to scan the entire C: drive
- 3. Press the Scan button
- 4. After the scan is complete, right click and select "Delete all infected files"
What else should I be doing to keep my
computer more secure?
The simplest thing you can do to keep your computer secure is to
never run programs you don't know about or don't need. Most viruses
come in email attachments or in files downloaded from unknown or
unreliable sources. By avoiding these types of files altogether,
you can significantly reduce the chances of getting a virus. Even
well known programs can cause problems though. Many file sharing
applications can install spyware
on your system to report information back to another source or provide
other methods of accessing or obtaining information from your system.
Avoid running programs you don't need to prevent unwanted access
to your computer.
Keeping your system up to date is also crucial to system security.
Security problems are often found in operating systems and patches
are released to correct them. If you run Windows, visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
frequently to downloaded the latest security patches for your computer.
Mac OS also includes a Software Updates feature and has security
updates available at http://www.apple.com/support/security/security_updates.html.
Details for updating each supported
operating system are also available.
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