Over the last few months, our campus has been dealing with increased problems with viruses and worms. It is important for everyone to protect their computer against these attacks. In just a few simple steps you can protect your PC and save yourself many headaches.
- Ensure you have virus protection software installed
and that the virus definitions are up to date. The two most common
Virus Protection software developers are Symantec
(Norton) and McAfee .
Both of these vendors allow you to purchase and download online.
Once you've downloaded and installed the product, make sure you run
the update function so that you have the most current definitions.
You can set your software to check for updates automatically. It
is strongly encouraged to do this and set it to check no less than
once per week.
- Update your operating system. Go to www.WindowsUpdate.com and
scan your computer. Download and install all items in the Critical
Updates and Service Packs section. Note that some updates have to
be downloaded by themselves. There are also dependencies that exist
so that you may not see that you need one update until you've installed
a previous one. Continue to go back to the site until there are no
more Critical Updates and Service Packs. Once you have downloaded
all of these patches, you should be able to go to the Control Panel,
choose the Automatic Updates icon and configure your computer to automatically
download these updates. IIT strongly encourages you to do this.
- Download and install a spyware protection software program such as Spybot Search and Destroy or Adaware. Both of these programs are located in I:\Spyware Utilities. Once installed, make sure that you search for updates and then scan the computer for spyware. Allow the software to clean any spyware it finds. IIT recommends scanning for spyware monthly.
If you have a college owned computer, your virus software is already installed and configured. You need not interact with it at all. In the near future, we will be able to push out the Windows Updates to college computers as well.
In the coming weeks IIT will be updating faculty and staff PCs running Windows.
These updates are necessary to keep pace with the rapid development and spread
of viruses and worms. The update process will begin sometime around Spring Break.
These updates will be the first in what will be semi-annual updates to PCs. Twice
a year, IIT will push out software updates to Windows PCs. These updates will
roughly coincide with the delivery of new computers following the spring and
fall computing requests.
During this first update the following will occur: 1) Windows 2000 Service Pack
4 will be installed (if not already installed); 2) the network client software
will be updated to the most current version; and 3) PCs will be configured to
automatically download updates to the Windows operating system.
Following these udpates, Windows PCs will be configured to check for and download
Windows updates from an internal server. As new software updates are released,
IIT will test them internally and then make them available on the internal server.
Windows PCs will check for updates daily and download them. Users will then be
prompted to install them. IIT will configure lab PCs to automatically download
and install the updates.
This has a number of advantages over the current system: 1) updates are downloaded
once to our network, reducing the use of our Internet connection; 2) patches
are tested internally before being made available; 3) users do not have to visit
the windows update web site. In short, Windows PCs will be automatically kept
up-to-date with the latest patches and security fixes with a minimum of user
intervention.
IIT will be testing this update process over the next few weeks. After
the testing, we will send e-mail messages to faculty and staff with more details
about the updates.
MacOS X Tips and Tricks: Part II
Setting your default Email and Web applications:
In MacOS X 10.2, setting your default e-mail reader or web browser is as simple as taking a trip to the System Preferences. The System Preferences can be found in one of two locations: the Apple Menu in the upper left or the Applications folder on your Macintosh HD. Once open, click on the Internet pane (second row from the bottom). Once the Internet pane is open, click on e-mail to set your e-mail reader and web to set your web browser. You may have to select your application of choice from the Applications folder if it doesn't appear in the list.
For MacOS X 10.3, things are a little trickier. E-mail defaults are set in the Mail application (a postage stamp icon). In Mail, select the Preferences from the “Mail” menu. Under the General pane you can select your default e-mail reader. To change your web browser, open Safari (a compass icon). Again, open Preferences from the “Safari” menu. Under the General pane, select your default web browser.
Setting your Network Time
All Macs have the capability to have their clock set from a time server. Time servers check with well-known, accurate clocks around the world to keep other servers' clocks set properly. You, too, can set your clock by these helpful tools.
All new St. Olaf owned Macs set their time from our own time server.
If your time seems to be off, open System Preferences and click on the
Date and Time pane (bottom row).
In MacOS X 10.2, click on the Network Time tab. Once there, click the check box and enter “timehost.stolaf.edu” (without the quotes) if you are on campus or leave the default “time.apple.com” (without the quotes) if you are off campus.
In MacOS X 10.3, the Date and Time tab has an option to “Set Date and Time automatically.” Click the check box and enter “timehost.stolaf.edu” (without the quotes) for on campus use or “time.apple.com” (without the quotes) for off campus use.
Software Updates
Although Macs are not vulnerable to the slew of viruses going around currently, it is still a good idea to stay on top of your updates. Often you may see a reminder pop up asking you if you want to install updates. If this happens, install the updates. Otherwise, open the System Preferences and click the Software Update pane (bottom row). In there, press the “Check Now” button and install any updates that appear. If you have not updated recently, you may need to do this a few times.
Software Update is an intelligent application. Often it will show a number of updates available but only have a few checked. Those that are not checked are most likely not necessary for your computer and can be skipped. Press Install to download and install those that are checked.
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