Protecting Your Computer

Computers can be attacked by viruses, Spyware, spam and hackers. A computer virus is a small program that spreads from one computer to another and it may corrupt or delete data from a computer and eventually take over the computer. An email virus travels as an attachment and sometimes does not even require a double-click. The virus can launch as the infected message is viewed in the preview pane!

Spyware is software hidden in a computer that gathers personal information and transfers to an outside source. Some indications that Spyware is on a computer:

  • Computer slows down or "hangs"
  • Home page changes
  • The number of "pop-up" ads increases
  • Pop-up ads appear when not surfing the Internet

McAfee Antivirus is the recommended, Emory-supported antivirus software for Macs and PCs. It is available to qualified members of the Emory community at no charge from http://software.emory.edu.

While there is always risk to your computer and data associated with online activities, a few simple guidelines can minimize that risk. Here are some simple steps to follow for Online Computer Safety.

If your computer gets hacked or infected by a virus:

  • Immediately unplug network connection and disconnect from the wireless network. Then scan your entire computer with fully updated antivirus software.
  • If your computer is no longer able to connect to the campus network, it might have been automatically removed from the system when the network detected a threat originating from your computer.
  • Contact the Oxford College Student Technology Support to have your computer cleaned and put back on line.