IT Services

Malware 

Malware is a term that is used to describe malicious software programs that run on your computer. It can be viruses, spyware, adware, Trojans, etc.

Malware is a serious problem for computer networks. As a DormNet user, you are responsible for keeping your computer virus-free and spyware-free. If your computer is found to be distributing a virus through the network, your DormNet connection will be disconnected until you are able to clean your machine of all viruses.

Some Common Signs of Malware

• Your computer runs noticeably slower
• Hard drive runs when not in use
• Your computer freezes or crashes repeatedly
• You begin to see lots of pop-up windows
• Files are deleted without your knowledge
• Applications do not open correctly
• You can't access certain web pages, or you can’t do Windows updates
• Programs can take an excessive amount of time to open
• You run out of hard drive space for no apparent reason
• You notice strange processes running on your computer
• Folders on your computer start sharing themselves across the network
• Files start appearing on your hard drive, perhaps in multiple locations

How You Can Prevent Malware

• Use anti-virus software and keep it updated. It is a requirement of DormNet that you have up-to-date anti-virus software on your computer. Install it and update it regularly. The best solution is to set your anti-virus software to update automatically.
• Keep your operating system updated. If you use the Windows operating system, you must stay current with the security patches. The best solution is to set up your computer to automatically do the updates as they come out.
• Never open e-mail attachments unless you know exactly what is in the file.
• Exercise caution when downloading files from the Internet. Know exactly what it is that you are downloading. Ensure that the source is legitimate and reputable.
• Verify the source of a link in an e-mail or instant message before clicking on it. Do not just follow any link you might receive in an e-mail or instant message.
• Use a firewall to protect your computer.
• Do not share access to your computer with file-sharing applications.
• Do not run or download any unsolicited executable files, documents, spreadsheets, etc.
• Use anti-spyware/anti-virus programs to clean your machine.