Best Internet Practices

Following these guidelines about email, attachments, and freeware can help you avoid viruses, worms and other attacks on your computer system:

• Don't trust email that gives you instructions to delete files on your computer. Find out more first. See the links below. Call the Help Desk at 6395, if you have any doubts.
• Don't open attachments, even from trusted friends and colleagues, unless you were expecting something from them. Call the Help Desk at 6395, if you have any doubts.
• Don't answer or pass along any chain letters. These can overload email systems with hundreds of emails. See http://www.breakthechain.org/ for more information.
• Don't install freeware or even shareware on your computer unless you fully understand the licensing agreement. Even if you do fully understand the agreement, please be aware that programs such as Weatherbug, Incredimail, Blubster, Grokster, and most others also install spyware and data mining applets that run in the background. These applets expose your computer to tracking software that can report your web browsing, your email addresses, and even passwords to unknown parties. In some instances we have found these applets will prevent your computer from running Denison software required to do your work. If it is not something you need to do your job, please check with the Help Desk first before you install something that may damage your system.

External References

Here are some references to give you an idea of what happens when you are not careful and some best practices suggestions from some of the best anti-virus/anti-spyware companies in the nation:

• McAfee Tips
• McAfee Virus Information
  
• Spyware
• Symantec Threat Explorer
  

Protecting Our Computers

Information Technology Services installs McAfee anti-virus software on all Denison-owned computers. Please do NOT install other products.

Denison has a limited number of home use licenses for McAfee VirusScan. You may download this software from Computing tab in myDenison and install it on one home computer.

In considering protection for your personally-owned computers you may also want to investigate Ad-aware, Spybot or AVG Anti-Virus. The freeware version of Ad-aware from Lavasoft is not permitted by license for use on University-owned computers. Spybot Search & Destroy from PepiMK Software is free, but the staff of Information Technology Services has limited experience with this product.