Virus/Spyware Protection
Computer Services

How Can You Protect Yourself?
There are several steps you can take to prevent your system from becoming infected by a virus or worm, spyware, or compromised through a remote exploit..


Anti-Virus All the Time
Defiance College provides all students with a copy of Symantec Antivirus.  If you do not have an up to date antivirus program already please log into onestop and download the one we have provided for you.  Having an antivirus run on your system is the first and easiest step in preventing having your machine compromised.
All it takes is one encounter with an infected file, a bad machine on the network, or a Trojan horse downloaded from the network to royally screw up your system.  It could take hours, even days to recover from a virus attack, and there’s no guarantee you will be able to restore your system or files to their pre-infected condition.   When you factor in the time you will spend rewriting that paper or rebuilding that spreadsheet, it just makes no sense not to have anti-virus software on your PC.


Keep Your Signature Files Up-to-Date
All anti-virus products need regular updates to detect current viruses. Having the auto update feature enabled is the safest way to configure your antivirus. Contact your anti-virus software’s manufacturer for information on how often and how to obtain these updates.


Spyware Protection
If you surf the internet, it's inevitable that you will have a run in with spyware. It is all over the internet, and it will find a way to get on your computer.  There are many programs to aide you in cleaning up spyware infections.  We suggest checking into the following programs:

Malwarebytes

SuperAntiSpyware

Spybot Search & Destroy

Combofix



Hacker Protection
You are a target!  Through the cable at the back of your computer and the hole in the wall of your bedroom, some very creepy things can crawl into your system and turn your PC into a paperweight, or make it act as if it was possessed.  Here are some do not’s.

• If you must share your hard drive or files to others, then password protect them.
• Enable a software firewall. Windows has one built in.
• Physically turn off your computer when not in use to reduce the probability.
• Do not execute any programs or open up any email which does not come from someplace or somebody you trust.  Doing such could not only launch a virus, but could open up a back door for that hacker!

 Most importantly, "remember to practice safe and responsible computer use."