B2: Virus Protection Project

 

A. INTRODUCTION

Computer viruses are nuisances that, if not treated properly, can cause a major loss of productivity for you and your students. Most recently a number of viruses have infected ISU computers including Word/Class, Happy99, and Malissa.

The University provides licensed McAfee VirusScan protection software FREE OF CHARGE for all students, faculty, and staff for both University-owned machines as well as personally-owned computers. In this project you will download Macintosh VirusScan software (also available for DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows95, WindowsNT, and OS/2) from a University server using your Web browser to obtain this software.

Effective virus protection includes installing the software "engine" and then having the latest data (DAT) file. Links to additional general information may be found at the following website: http://www.adm.ilstu.edu/security/welcome.html.

Alternatively, the software is available on floppy disk (you'll have to provide 7 diskettes for PC and 1 for Mac) from Julian Hall 153 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Note: This is a greatly updated version of the Virus Protection Project from last year. There may be a number of "bugs" associated with its implementation. If you have trouble following the directions, contact your course instructor immediately for assistance.

B1. OPTIONAL PROCEDURE 1 (using Fetch)

  1. Use the Internet application called Fetch on your departmental computer (or a similar ftp program on your own computer) and contact the following address: ftp://ftp.ilstu.edu/pub/software/mcafee/mac/virex/. If you are uncertain of where Fetch resides on the computer you are using, use the "command-F" function to access the Find File program and find Fetch. Start the application.
  2. Using Fetch, "get" the file entitled Virex591.hqx (or similar such file appropriate to your computer system). Please note that this is a 5 Meg file and that using a modem will take a long time for download.
  3. Decompress the file by double clicking on the icon. As an "hqx" file, this program will be first decompressed by the program Stuffit into a "sit" file. Yet another new file will be created with the VirusScan label.
  4. Use Fetch or a similar program to download the file "Disk Copy 6.3.2.smi" from the Physics FTP Server at the following address: ftp://www.phy.ilstu.edu/. Search for Disk Copy under MAC / APPLE SYSTEM SOFTWARE / UTILITIES. "Get" and extract this program. This program will serve as the engine for the DAT file "Virex 5.9.1.img."
  5. Before running the installer, run a virus scan out of the open window. Be patient; this will take a few minutes. After you have run and disinfected your hard drive, install the program. ** Caution ** Save all open files and close all windows and applications before starting up the installer. The installer requires a restart of your computer and, should you be forced into a restart without having saved files, valuable information could be lost.
  6. Run a second check of the computer's hard drive by double clicking on "Virex591.img." This will update the engine with information about the latest viruses mentioned above.
  7. Read the important files that were extracted as part of the installation process. Be prepared to tell your instructor all about VirusScan in a demonstration interview using a DEPARTMENTAL computer.


B2. OPTIONAL PROCEDURE 2 (using a Web browser)

  1. Using your Web browser, access the following URL to download the software free of charge: http://www.ilstu.edu/CUS/sitelice/#mcafee. Please note that this is a 5 Meg file and that using a modem will require a long time for download.
  2. Click on the appropriate file to download. Note that the file is compressed and will have to be decompressed with the appropriate utility. Many computers will automatically decompress the downloaded file if the appropriate utility is installed.
  3. Follow the steps from #3 onward that are given above.


C. EVALUATION

No output is required for this exercise. Nonetheless, the student should be prepared to show the course instructor that (s)he is knowledgeable about virus protection generally, and can run the VirusScan program specifically when presented with a diskette.

 

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