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| ACS, ITC prepare for viruses |
by David Forbes
Senior Staff Writer |
Almost two months
after the “Blaster” and “Nachi” viruses infected
the Appalachian State University network, Academic Computing Services
and the Information Technology Center said they have taken precautions
to make sure that problem doesn’t happen again.
“Were a new virus to come out, we could probably handle it
on a piecemeal basis without shutting down the entire network,”
Douglas B. May, director of Academic Computing Services, said Friday.
“The problem we had was the sudden influx of students bringing
computers up all at one time. I can’t imagine a problem like
that again until next fall.”
Oscar D. Knight, a systems programmer in Network Support, said Friday
that Appalachian will upgrade and replace its network equipment,
to help fight viruses in the future.
“We’re trying to equip the next generation of the network.
The idea is that with the next hardware we’ll have finer control,
so we can get a hold of a problem and get rid of it before it threatens
the network,” Knight said.
Knight and May said lost time and money resulting from viruses could
not yet be estimated.
May said ACS is taking two main steps, at a system wide level, to
prevent another virus problem.
First, ACS plans to write a program enabling students to update
their computers from a Web site. The updates would protect against
viruses and security problems on a computer.
Second, Appalachian students will have up-to-date virus protection.
“Students need to have their computer updated and running a
current anti-virus program to be safe,” May said. “For
on campus students, we’re offering free, full-blown, up-to-date
versions of McAfee (Virus Scan) from www.antivirus.appstate.edu.”
The same protection will also be available to residents of the University
Highlands apartment complex, who also use Appalachian’s network.
“Realistically, we can still be threatened by a virus, but
if people use [the updates and protection], it’s unlikely,”
May said. “We also have a virus checker on the e-mail, so if
they use that they’re safe. Peer to peer file services can
also be a problem. Ninety-nine percent of viruses spread through
those.”
According to the Norton Web site, two main virus types are worms,
which can spread through Internet connections and e-mail unnoticed,
and “Trojans,” which come into a computer, usually through
e-mail, disguised as something else.
“Going around earlier this year, the quote tech service people
heard from students the most was ‘what virus?’ I’d
hope students would be more aware of what they need to do by now,
but probably not,” May said.
“Not every student reads The Appalachian or listens to WASU
[radio station], so all we can do is hope to get the word out in
as many forms as possible.” |
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