Step 1: Download & Install Symantec AntiVirus for Desktops
Carnegie Mellon owns a volume license for Symantec (Norton) AntiVirus which is our licensed, supported and recommended solution for virus protection. Beginning with version 10.0.1, Symantec also guards against Spyware.
When kept current, Symantec AntiVirus detects viruses, trojans, some worms and spyware as they appear on your hard drive and alerts you so that you are aware that your machine has been infected. You should always keep your antivirus software up-to-date to avoid any problems. Please note, anti-virus software does not protect you against break-ins. For more information on these terms, see Securing Your Machine: Definitions.
Important Note: If you have a new machine, any anti-virus software that was included when you purchased it is most likely a trial package that is set to expire in three months. Once the software expires and you can no longer receive the continuous updates, the virus definition files quickly becomes outdated.
To ensure that your machine is protected you will want to download a copy of Symantec AntiVirus software from the Portal My Accounts tab. For detailed instructions, read the Download and Install section of the Symantec AntiVirus document.
Run Live Update
Virus definitions change daily. To fully protect your computer, you need to download the latest virus definition files by running Live Update. The Carnegie Mellon installation of Symantec AntiVirus is pre-configured to run LiveUpdate daily at 3:00 a.m. In addition, the software is configured with File System Auto-Protect enabled. Read the Symantec AntiVirus LiveUpdate page for details.
Last Updated: 01/12/07
