Main navigation | Main content
The computer science department uses virus detection tools to protect computers, user accounts and email accounts. All clients and servers managed by systems staff are protected by anti-virus software that is kept up to date and patched at all times. If you have any questions or suspect your computer may be infected with a virus, send email to operator [at] cs.umn.edu immediately.
The Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides Symantec Client Security software to students, faculty, and staff of the University of Minnesota. There is no charge for this software as long as you agree to the terms of the license agreement. For more information, see the Symantec AntiVirus, Client Security, Endpoint Protection page.
New viruses and security holes are found all the time. For more information about new viruses go to Symantec Security Response.
Most modern viruses spoof the sender and attachment name to make the attachment appear valid. They search the address book of the infected computer for an email address the computer owner has had correspondence with, and use this address as the apparent sender to make the virus harder to trace. Some viruses will then copy a name from a random file on the computer to use as the name of the attachment. This can result in the virus sending itself in an attachment that appears to be related to a project, from a person who is known to be working on that project.
Most personal computers today have some form of adware, spyware, or malware installed. These third-party applications run in the background using processing power and bandwidth while generating advertisements, collecting information, and possibly creating security risks.
Adware is software which displays advertisements while the application is running through pop-up windows or other means. Some adware is valid and is installed only with user consent, or is required for the free use of a program. In these cases it will be listed in the license agreement. However, when adware is installed without consent or collects unauthorized user data it becomes a form of spyware.
Spyware is software that gathers user information from the machine on which it is installed, often transmitting it to an outside user or company. It is usually downloaded and installed along with other applications or media players, often without the user's approval or knowledge.
Some spyware tracks websites visited for advertisers or collects personal information from web forms. Others seek out email address for spam lists or credit card numbers, passwords, and other potentially harmful information.
Malware is any software used for illegal purposes, or to harm a user or computer. Viruses, worms, trojan horses, exploits, and the more malicious spyware are all a form of malware.
Cookies are files that add functionality to web sites. They are often necessary to view sites properly, or to keep track of an online shopping cart. Some cookies track sites viewed for advertising companies, or keep track of personal information. Because of this, some people consider them spyware.
Most web browsers include the ability to manage and delete cookies, or restrict the cookies which are installed. More information about this should be available in your browser's help files.
Most spyware and adware is downloaded and installed with desirable freeware and media files. To prevent its installation:
There are many spyware and adware removal tools available online. Some are free, some are shareware, and some must be purchased. Caution should be used when selecting a tool, because some forms of spyware misrepresent themselves as removal tools.
These two are known to be reliable: