Step 3: Stop viruses and spyware and install protective programs

Viruses, spyware, and other malware can bring your computer to a grinding halt, cause irreparable damage, or allow hackers to steal passwords and personal information. Once on your machine, a virus can infect others on the NU Network. Keep your guard up with industry-standard protective software. NUIT provides Symantec AntiVirus and Spybot - Search & Destroy free for download to the NU community. Follow the instructions below to keep your system clean.

• Use an antivirus program

  Download — Symantec AntiVirus is free for download to the NU community. Follow the instructions at the Symantec AntiVirus page to download, install, and enable automatic updating.

  Scan — Set your antivirus program to scan your computer automatically and least once per week, or immediately if you notice a problem.

  Update — If your computer already has antivirus, be sure it is up-to-date. New computers often come with trial versions which expire, leaving you unprotected. If your antivirus is not updated, then it’s not keeping your computer secure.
  

• Use an antispyware program

  Download — Spybot - Search & Destroy is free for download and reccomended by NUIT. Follow the instructions on the Spybot page to download, install, and enable automatic updating.

  Scan — Scan for spyware at least once per week. Spybot and most other spyware protection programs can be set to do so automatically.

  Prevent — Free software and other downloads can come bundled with spyware that tracks your activity online. Read more about spyware and how to prevent it.

• Configure your firewall to protect your computer

  A firewall prevents unauthorized connections to your computer and most machines come with one already installed, but make sure yours is configured correctly.

  Note: Students living on campus should configure firewalls to allow for NUTV.

  Windows Vista

  1. Right click on My Computer
  2. Select Properties
  3. Click Security Center
  4. Click Windows Firewall
  5. Click Turn Windows Firewall on or off
  6. Click Continue if prompted for permission
  7. Click On (recommended)
  8. Click OK
  
  

  Windows XP:
  Note: If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2, your firewall is already protecting you.

  1. From the Start menu, select Control Panel
  2. Select Network and Internet Connections
  3. Select Network Connections (if you do not see it, click Switch to Category View)
  4. Highlight a connection you want to protect, and select Change settings of this connection
  5. Select Advanced and then Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet
  6. Click OK
  
  

  Macintosh OS X:

  1. From the Apple Menu or the Dock, open System Preferences
  2. Select Sharing
  3. Select the service you want to share
  4. Firewall protection is automatically turned on for that service
  5. Select Firewall to make sure the corresponding firewall is enabled

  If your computer runs Mac OS 9.x or Windows 2000 (or older), you may need to obtain firewall software. Find more information on the NUIT personal firewall software page.

• Use an adware program

  Adware placed on your computer by Web sites can cause annoying pop-up ads or install dangerous keylogging software. For personal computers, Lavasoft's Ad-Aware is free for download and can catch some adware Spybot may miss. Install the software and run scans regularly as a second line of defense against unwanted tracking.

Continue to Step 4: Secure Settings