What You Need to Know about the New Windows Security CD

If you run Windows, use this Windows Security CD before connecting to the campus network!

Tell your UO friends and colleagues who run Windows to patch their systems immediately upon returning to the UO campus this fall.

The easiest way to patch your Windows system is to grab a free Windows Security update CD from Microcomputer Services in 151 McKenzie Hall or from the usual Duckware distribution points (see the Duckware article on page 2 for a complete list of these distribution sites). Like Duckware, the Windows Security CD is for UO faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students only.

Run the CD before connecting to UOnet. The infection rate of the current RPC worms (W32/Blaster, W32/SoBig, etc.) is so fast, users will not have time to download the updates from Microsoft's Windows Update site before becoming contaminated. For this reason, you must use the security CD prior to connecting to the campus network.

Ethernet users: don't connect to UOnet until you run the CD. Returning students and staff should physically unplug their ethernet cable, run the security CD, then plug the ethernet cable back in when the CD's protective cycle is complete.

Dialin users: Dialin users should run the security CD prior to dialing in

How the CD Works. Like Duckware, the Windows Security CD automatically plays when inserted into your computer's CD-ROM drive. The program on the Security CD checks to see if your system is already infected, and if it is, tries to remove any exploits. It applies the appropriate patch for Windows 2000 or XP systems (Windows ME, 98, and 95, and all Mac OS systems are not affected). As a final measure, virus definitions are updated and a scan is invoked.

Keep a record of any error messages. Users need to pay attention to any error messages Norton Antivirus may display, and write them down.

Troubleshooting help. It is possible for Norton to detect a worm, virus, or trojan that it cannot eradicate. If that occurs, Norton will indicate the virus name, and which files it could not delete. This information may be necessary for later troubleshooting.

If you run into a problem you can't resolve, call Microcomputer Services at 346-4412.