Information Technology Services ? Security Awareness

Viruses, Trojan horses, and Worms

The following information is provided to educate faculty and staff of the possible dangers involving computer viruses and other attacks that lurk on the network and in e-mail that can also compromise your computer system.

A computer virus is a software program that has been designed to infect, destroy, modify, or cause other problems with a computer or software program. Users can protect themselves by ensuring anti-virus protection on their computers is up-to-date.

Trojan horse is a program in which malicious or harmful code is contained inside apparently harmless programming or data in such a way that it can get control and do its chosen form of damage. A Trojan horse may be widely redistributed as part of a computer virus. Keep virus protection up-to-date.

A worm is often mistaken for a virus. It is a single destructive program on a single system often planted by someone who has direct access to the system. A worm has the ability to copy itself from machine to machine. Worms normally move around and infect other machines through computer networks. Using a network, a worm can expand from a single copy incredibly quickly. Don?t open e-mail or attachments where you don?t know the sender.

Anti-virus software must be installed on all computers accessing the Georgia Southern network and running, with virus definitions updated weekly at a minimum. Virus protection downloads can be obtained by obtaining a CD from IT Services in Room 0006D Marvin Pittman Bldg. Both Spyware and virus protection software should be utilized on a daily basis. Users can ?right click? on the yellow shield in the bottom right-hand corner of the monitor to access virus-checking programs.

An essential safety precaution is to ensure that the GSU password procedures are being followed. Look at the password requirements at http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/provost/policies/IT Security Standards.pdf . For more information about viruses and hoaxes please see http://status.georgiasouthern.edu/virus.php .

How to avoid Viruses, Worms, and Trojans

Dos

• Do install antivirus software. Georgia Southern provides Symantec Antivirus on every new institution computer.


• Do keep your operating system and applications up-to-date and apply the latest patches when they are available. Get the updates directly from the vendor.


• Do regularly update the virus and spyware software on your computer.


• Do change your password every 90 days with the proper password format.


• Do know the person who is sending you this file or attachment. E-mail addresses can be ?spoofed? ? the ?from? address can be faked. Does it make sense that they are sending it to you?


• Do make frequent backups of important files.

• Don?t enter personal information into any web site form unless you are certain that the web site is authentic ? clicking on a link in an e-mail can send you to any web site - make sure you are in the right place.


• Don?t open attachments from unknown or unsuspected sources, with double file extensions such as name.bmp.exe or name.txt.vbs, or with the file extensions vbs, shs, or pif. These extensions are almost never used in normal attachments but are frequently used by viruses and worms.


• Don?t open any attachment you were not expecting or in un-solicited e-mail advertisements or follow web links quoted in them. Even if the email ?appears? to have come from someone you know. When in doubt call the sender of the message.


• Don?t click links in e-mail. If you need to access the link do so by typing in the URL of the link manually.


• Don?t open e-mail that doesn?t have a subject.


• Don?t accept links from unknown instant messaging (IM) users. Phishers also use IM to steal your identity with the same technique. Don?t accept images/files from IM


• Don?t open a link unless you trust the source. Unknown web sites often contain malware (Spyware, Adware) ? computer code that can be used to steal your identity or take control of your machine.