Desktop Security and Virus Information
Quick steps to protect your desktop, laptop and other mobile devices:
- Do not click on links in email from unknown sources.
- Make backup copies of your critical data.
- Use a hard to guess password, do not share the password and
change it periodically. Oakland University and University Technology
Services will never send you an email asking you for your password; do
not respond to emails that ask for passwords.
- Make sure your software is up-to-date: install patches, firewall protection and anti-virus updates.
University employees should contact the Helpdesk if they are using an
Oakland University owned computer that is not currently
running Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP). The Helpdesk installs the
program for free and uses it to manage virus updates on campus. Please
go to your Start menu-->Programs-->Symantec Endpoint Protection.
If you have the program, please open it and look at your Virus
Definition File Date (located on the lower right hand corner). The date
should be within this month, if not, please call the Helpdesk at (248)
370-4357.
Students and faculty using campus network resources with personal
laptops are strongly encouraged to install and maintain security
protections such as personal firewalls and anti-virus software.
Virus Hoaxes
Some viruses are not viruses at all — they are merely hoaxes
circulated usually by e-mail. Before you report a virus or warn friends
about it, you should make sure it is not a hoax, otherwise you are only
serving to perpuate the hoax! McAfee and Symantec both keep
comprehensive lists of virus hoaxes at the following sites:
Other Useful Resources