UD Home | UDaily | UDaily-Alumni | UDaily-Parents


HIGHLIGHTS
UD called 'epicenter' of 2008 presidential race

Refreshed look for 'UDaily'

Fire safety training held for Residence Life staff

New Enrollment Services Building open for business

UD Outdoor Pool encourages kids to do summer reading

UD in the News

UD alumnus Biden selected as vice presidential candidate

Top Obama and McCain strategists are UD alums

Campanella named alumni relations director

Alum trains elephants at Busch Gardens

Police investigate robbery of student

UD delegation promotes basketball in India

Students showcase summer service-learning projects

First UD McNair Ph.D. delivers keynote address

Research symposium spotlights undergraduates

Steiner named associate provost for interdisciplinary research initiatives

More news on UDaily

Subscribe to UDaily's email services


UDaily is produced by the Office of Public Relations
150 South College Ave.
Newark, DE 19716-2701
(302) 831-2791

Campus computer defenses stave off ‘Mydoom’ virus

10:12 a.m., Feb. 3, 2004--UD’s two-tier virus protection system has kept the Mydoom virus in check throughout the campus, but IT User Services advises computer users there are simple steps they should take to assure continued protection. The virus arrives as an e-mail attachment that, if opened, sends itself on to other e-mail addresses and can allow unauthorized access to computers.

Because the University’s server checks e-mail before it gets to desktops and virus protection software checks it at the desktop, Beth Miller of IT-User Services said only a handful of computers at UD got infected with Mydoom.

Miller said the best way to protect against Mydoom and other viruses is to turn off all computers each night—or at least press restart every 24 hours. When the computer is restarted or turned off, the virus-protection software runs automatically. Users do not have to do anything else to activate the software, and they likely will not know the protection software is running.

The other integral step in protecting against Mydoom and other viruses that copy e-mail lists is to never open any attachments without checking with the sender.

“Even if you know the sender, if you’re not expecting an attachment, don’t open it. Your best friend can send you a virus unknowingly if someone has her e-mail address list. The virus can spoof your address, and you’ll think the e-mail is coming from your friend,’’ Miller said.

Students returning to campus with new computers or new operating systems should protect themselves and their e-mail contacts by downloading free virus protection software from the University’s software website at [http://udeploy.udel.edu].

Miller warned that new computers often come with free virus protection software but users don’t realize the software is a trial version that runs for only 90 days.

  E-mail this article

To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here.