Student Computer Virus Practice
Student-owned computers that are infected with viruses continue to be a serious problem on the Wheaton network. Library and Information Services (LIS) becomes aware of an infected computer when it begins to attack the college's servers and staff workstations.
If you allow your computer to become infected you put your files, your computer, and the college's infrastructure at risk. While many viruses are more annoying than damaging, some are designed to erase all of the contents of your hard drive or designed to destroy computer memory that effectively prevent the computer from being used.
Any student computer that is found to be infected will be removed from the Wheaton network. During that time the student will be expected to obtain anti-virus software, install it, and use it to clean the computer of all viruses. LIS Technology Support staff will assist and do not charge for that service.
If your computer is found to be infected a second time in any given semester, there will be a $50.00 fee to reconnect your computer to the network after it is cleaned. If there is a third occurrence of a computer infection in a semester, you will not be allowed to reconnect your computer to the network until the beginning of the following semester and you have paid a reconnection fee.
Please note: You will still be able to use all of Wheaton's public access computers in the Library Atrium and KCCL while your computer is off of the network.
All student-owned computers on the residential network must have anti-virus software installed and updated regularly. You do not have to use the software provided by Wheaton. If you are running a Microsoft operating system (XP or Windows 2000), you also need to make sure that your Microsoft Operating System is current for any vulnerability by updating it from the Microsoft site.
Where you can obtain anti-virus software:
Anti-virus software such as Norton AntiVirus and McAfee VirusScan can be readily purchased from many sources. You may have already have a trial version that was installed on your computer when you bought it that just needs to be updated.
There is also free anti-virus software available for download from the IT&S Software server:
http://www.wheatoncollege.edu/IT_S/software/
and click on Downloading site-licensed Software
Windows users
Before you install a new anti-virus software package, be sure that you remove any existing anti-virus software from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program function in the Control Panel. Reboot your computer before you start the installation process.
If you have any questions or need assistance with your computer, contact LIS Technology Support at x3900.