IT Services

Viruses and other threats to data security

Where can I get an antivirus software

Antivirus software licensed from F-Secure is available for all students and staff at the University of Helsinki. The license allows them to install and use the software on their home computers. In addition AntiVirus for Mac software from Symantec is available for the Macintosh users of the staff. The installation packages can be downloaded from the program distribution.

The antivirus software doesn't work

The most certain way to prevent an antivirus software from working properly is to run two different antivirus programs at the same time. In that case one of the programs has to be removed. If further problem occur please get in touch with our antivirus staff: helpdesk [ät] helsinki.fi.

Somebody is using my username and sending email in my name

Most likely, when email appears to be sent in the name of someone else, the information stating the sender is falsified. But in certain cases it is worthwhile to take precautions. First of all you should change your passwords. Thereafter it is advisable to get in touch with our data security: atk-turva [ät] helsinki.fi.

Virus and data security – a summary

• New computer viruses are discovered almost every day. To work properly the antivirus software needs to have up-to-date descriptions of the viruses. The software must therefore be regularly updated.
• Some of the viruses hardly have any impact on the normal performance of the computer. But even these viruses have to be removed, since they can interfere with the communications and then the IT Department has to cut off the affected computer from the network.
• It is always a risk to open unknown or suspect email attachments. All email received in the university mailboxes is filtered by an antivirus software. But yet, most of the new viruses manage to get through during the first hours when they are unleashed.
• The malfunctioning of a computer does not necessarily have to be caused by a virus. The web is full of malicious software aimed to cause harm, many of which the antivirus software does not recognize. There are specifically designed programs to counter these threats.
• The data security in a system is all a question of the manners and behaviour of its users. Borrowing the password to someone else, not logging out when leaving the computer, etc. actions like these put the data security at risk. By being careful the user can avoid a whole lot of unnecessary trouble.

22.09.2011