Virus and SpyWare

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Spring 2007 www.umsl.edu/iclabs
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Definitions

• Virus
• A virus is a piece of computer code that attaches
  itself to a program or file so it can spread from
  computer to computer, infecting as it travels.
  Viruses can damage your software, your hardware,
  and your files.
• Worm
• A worm generally spreads without user action and
  distributes complete copies (possibly modified)
  of itself across networks. A worm can consume
  memory or network bandwidth, thus causing a
  computer to stop responding.

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Definitions (cont)

• Spyware
• Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering
  information about a person or organization
  without their knowledge. It Can overload your
  system and shutdown other services.
• Tojan Horse
• Computer program that appears to be useful
  software, but instead compromises your security
  and causes a lot of damage.

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How Do We Get Them

• Opening Email
• Visiting Web Sites
• Installing Software
• Just having a Computer on a Network

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How Do You Protect Yourself

• Educate Yourself
• AntiVirus Programs
• Patching and Updating
• AntiSpyware Programs

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Education

• Dont open emails that looks fishy
• Dont visit bad websites
• Only install software from Trusted vendors
• Scan files before opening them
• Visit websites like Microsoft, Symantec, and
  Apple to get informed of new security alerts.

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AntiVirus Programs

• We use Symantec AntiVirus
• It should be installed on all systems on campus.
• It is also available for personal use at home.
• You can download the latest version at
• www.umsl.edu/norton

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Norton Antivirus

• Start Programs Symantec Security Client
  Symantec AntiVirus

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Norton Antivirus Update

• After Clicking Live Update

• This goes out to Symantec and pulls the most
  recent updates from their servers.
• For campus computers, this is done automatically
  for you, and you do not normally need to do this.

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Norton Antivirus Auto Update from Home

• In Symantec Antivirus
• File menu Schedule Updates

• Check the box to Enable.
• Click the Schedule Button to choose a Time.

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System Auto-protect

• The most important component of Symantec
• It keeps your system protected when you perform
  tasks.
• Configure menu File System auto-protect

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Scanning Your System

• Scanning looks for problems that may already
  exist on you system
• Scan menu Computer choose the Drives to Scan

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What Happens when a Virus is Detected

• A popup message will appear on screen
• It tells the file, location, and action taken.
• Action should be cleaned, quarantined, or
  deleted. That means it is working.
• For any other action like none taken call the
  helpdesk.

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Patching and Updating

• One of the best things that you can do to protect
  your system is to Patch it.
• Most people believe that their system got
  infected because of a failed AntiVirus product,
  but they are wrong.
• Most infected systems become infected because of
  poorly patched systems.
• Patching is a simple, easy, and free way to
  protect your system.

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How you patch a system

• To do it manually, use the windows update Icon on
  your start menu.
• To do it automatically got to Start Settings
  Control panel and choose Automatic Updates.

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How We as a Campus Patch

• Labs and Classrooms are patched automatically by
  a system called Software Update Services the day
  after a patch is released and tested.
• Nothing else is needed.
• Faculty and Staff Systems that belong to the
  UMSL-USERS Domain are patched by SMS as soon as
  they have written and tested the package.
• It is still a good idea to patch yourself.

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AntiSpyware Programs

• Spyware is typically placed on your system by
  visiting websites and installing software.
• Typical signs that you have spyware
• You have a lot of popup windows when visiting the
  web or just logging on to your system.
• Your homepage has changed to a different site.
• You notice a major drop in system performance.
• Your antispyware or antivirus utility stops
  working.
• You go to search for things and your search page
  has changed.
• New Items appear in your favorites.
• In many cases there are no signs and it is
  running silently recording your actions.

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Protect Yourself from Spyware

• Use a popup blocker like Google Toolbar, or the
  one that comes with FireFox and Internet
  Explorer.
• Install AntiSpyware utilities.
• Some that we recommend are Ad-aware, Spybot -
  Search and Destroy, CWShreder, and Symantec
  Antivirus 10.
• These can be found for free at
• http//www.lavasoftusa.com/
• http//www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.
  html
• http//www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html
• These programs are not provided to you by the
  University and are free for anyone to download
  for personal use.

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Spybot Search and Destroy
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Spybot - Updating

• Always Update the software before scanning or
  immunizing the system.

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Spybot - Immunize

• Immunizing the system protects it from getting
  certain types of Spyware.

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Spybot - Scanning

• Click the Search and Destroy Button to scan the
  system.
• This will clean off existing Spyware.

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LavaSofts Ad-Aware
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Ad-Aware - Update

• Use the Check for Updates Link on the Main screen
  or the Web update Button.

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Ad-Aware - Scanning

• Click the Scan Now Button
• Choose to do a Full System Scan

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Ad-Aware Scan Results

• You will get Critical Objects (Clean)
• You will get Negligible Objects (Can Leave Alone)
• Mostly MRU (Most Recently Used)

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Ad-Aware Clean Objects

• When you clean objects they go to the Quarantine.
  
• You can leave them or delete them.

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CWShredder

• Only Cleans spyware from Cool Web Search

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Questions???
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Attention !!!

• Duplex Printing is now available on our labs.

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Additional Information

• http//www.micros.umsl.edu
• The Microcomputer Program at the University of
  Missouri-St. Louis offers day and evening
  computer courses as part of the Chancellor's
  Certificate series.
• http//mell.umsystem.edu
• Microsoft E-Learning Library has tutorials on
  many MS Office products available to all UMSL
  students and staff
• http//www.umsl.edu/stg
• The Online Student Technology Guide has answers
  to many computing questions.