Anti-Virus, Spam and Other Security Informtion

With the ever increasing use of computing within UCC has come an increasing need for the security of these computing resources. Three of the biggest drains on a modern-day organisation's IT resources come in the form of:

• Computer Viruses
• Spam
• Phishing Emails 
• Spyware

Computer Viruses are malicious computer programs that can affect the normal everyday operations of your PC, Laptop or other computing device. The effects can range from renaming files, to changing file types so they are no longer useful, to deleting files, to disrupting the operating system of the computer so that the user loses valuable data and information. In order to prevent viruses from infecting your computer, it is essential that you install Anti-Virus software on your PC.

In UCC, F-Secure is the college wide anti-virus software. It is available to all UCC users - for further information please go to the Anti-Virus Software Information page.

Spam is the name by which unsolicited junk emails are known. They are the equivalent of unwanted marketing letters or junk mail that you get in the post. In UCC, emails pass through a spam filter in order to identify as best as possible what email is junk. For more information on Spam and how to filter it from your inbox click on the link to Spam Information above.

Phishing Emails are messages sent to staff that appear to be from a ligitimate UCC department requesting your username and password. Normally these emails will threaten to close your email account if you do not forward on the information in a number of days. These messages are fraudulent and have not been sent from the Computer Centre. If you have received and responded to such an email please contact the Computer Centre Helpdesk 021 4902120. The Helpdesk is open from 8:30am - 6 pm Monday - Friday.

Spyware has become a very large problem in a short space of time but thankfully, to date, it's effects have been mainly benign. However, we do not consider this to continue, and it will more than likely become another vector for exploitation and potential destruction. For more information click on the link to Common Security Breaches above.

There are other security considerations that all users must take account of in their day-to-day use of IT facilities in UCC. Whether it be updating your Operating System to the latest, securest version (Windows XP service pack 2 for Microsoft users) or being aware of common security breaches (e.g. plugging an unpatched laptop with inadequate anti-virus software into the college network), there are a few things that all users can do to help the Computer Centre maintain a secure and reliable computing infrastructure within UCC. Just follow the links above to the relevant sections.