Virus Protection Guidelines

General use and misuse of computer systems is covered within the University's Computer Systems Regulations and Staff Code of Conduct. The aim of this document is to reduce the chance of network virus outbreaks/security attacks involving computers associated with the University of Waikato by promoting recognised good practice in the context of Virus Protection.

Trend Micro Anti-Virus

Centrally provided virus protection software (Trend Micro) is made available to all UoW owned computers.

Trend Micro must:

• be installed on all University computers that are capable of running it (i.e. Windows-based and Macintosh machines)
• have Virus and Spyware Protection definitions updated every day and Proactive Threat Protection definitions updated with recent date.
• be installed on all laptops connected full or part-time to our network
• have "Real-Time protection" enabled for file systems, outlook and Internet email.

For further information please log a request in Kuhukuhu or phone the Service Desk on 07 838 4008.

During regular updates to Trend Micro, users will received messages about Windows Defender and Trend Micro being disabled. Please note that these messages should disappear within 30 minutes once Trend Micro has completed it update.

General standards

• Most viruses are sent as e-mail attachments either in a deliberate attempt to corrupt the University's network or by someone who is unaware that the attachment contains a virus.  In some cases these viruses are attached to legitimate email, in others a new message is created and sent to the recipient - often without the user on the sending machine being aware of this.  Email attachments from unknown people or of unknown type should not be opened without prior consultation with the University's ITS Division. Contact the Service Desk (ext 4008) in the first instance.
• Viruses can also spread via various types of storage media. Therefore, CD's, USBs, external hard-drives, or other forms of media from home should be scanned before use.
• Home computers may have been (without the user's knowledge) infected by a virus and to avoid contamination to our systems, should not be brought in and attached to the University network.
• If a suspect email attachment is received from a user WITHIN the University, please notify the Service Desk (ext 4008) of this, as the user's machine may not have virus protection installed on it.   (NB. A phone call with the person's username is better than forwarding a virus infected message on)
• Users should 'quarantine' any infected file found on their machine (as reported by the system) until it can be inspected further.
• Users should notify the Service Desk (ext 4008) in the event of infected files on a File Share being found by their machine (as reported by the system), since the problem may be more widespread and affect other people on the server.
• Users should ensure that virus protection software is installed and up to date following a system rebuild, operating system update or the installation of a new machine.