Despite insufficient protection among home computer users nationally, Ohio University has seen a consistent decline in the number of residence hall computers being infected with viruses.
Each year we have seen fewer infected machines
in spite of the huge increase in the number of virus variants said Sean O'Malley, information technology communications manager for Communication Network Services. In 2003, CNS detected 750 potential infections during Fall Quarter. But in 2005, the number of potential infections during the same period shrank to 220. According to the Online Safety Study by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance, 81 percent of home computers lack key protection against viruses, spyware and hackers. Additionally, 56 percent of the 354 home computer users polled had no anti-virus software or had not updated it recently, according to the study.
In an effort to educate students about online dangers, O'Malley said he speaks to about 90 percent of incoming freshmen at pre-college orientation. Additionally, CNS distributes mass e-mails at the beginning of Fall Quarter, but finds them ineffective because of the large volume of official announcements bombarding students, O'Malley said. According to the CNS Web site, technology.ohio.edu, three steps can be taken to ensure safe computing: not opening unsolicited e-mail attachments, using passwords that cannot be guessed easily, and taking steps to protect Windows from Network Trojan viruses.
To protect students, CNS has instituted measures that attempt to stop attacks on a computer before they start. Helping maintain security at OU are sophisticated e-mail filters and automated quarantines on all computers connected to the university network as well as automatic Windows Security and McAfee Virus Scan updates to all university-owned residence hall computers to help maintain security at OU, O'Malley said. Also, any person affiliated with OU can obtain a free license for McAfee via the CNS Web site.
For the 3,600 residence hall computers, technological support (including security) receives funding from a general fund of $864,000 a year that also supports virus protection and help desk staff, telephone and on-site support, maintenance, installing new machines and refurbishing old machines and software, O'Malley said.
The No. 1 step we have taken to protect people is the use of sophisticated e-mail filters O'Malley said. On average, the OAK e-mail service receives 5 million e-mails daily, approximately 4.6 million of which are rejected by the system, O'Malley said. Automated quarantines, which detect suspicious behavior on the network, such as a malicious virus, help target a computer and temporarily remove it from the rest of the network to avoid further infections.
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Rick Rouan
