Anti-Virus Information
ResNet Anti-Virus Recommendation for Windows
For students running Microsoft Windows, ResNet officially recommends the free version of AVG as an anti-virus solution. AVG Free Edition is a lightweight anti-virus scanner, so it doesn't bog down the system, and its virus detection rate is satisfactory. These are some of the strengths of AVG Free Edition:
Easy to install
Its automated installer is simple. There are two options to choose from. A Standard Installation will automatically install AVG in the default location with the default options. A Custom Installation will allow you to personalize your installation.
Lightweight Scanner
This is one of the main reasons why most of our technicians recommend AVG. The installation takes only a few minutes, and should you ever feel the need to remove it, uninstallation typically takes one minute or less. "Total protection suites" such as Norton Internet Security and McAfee Total Protection asks for you to set a password to make changes to the software's configuration and installation, and if this password is forgotten, it makes these total protection suites difficult to remove.
Fast Automatic Updates
Since the application is very small, updates are quick and unintrusive. AVG Free Edition only downloads updated virus definition files, which allows the scanner to identify new virus patterns.
Low Usage of System Resources
AVG is a lightweight anti-virus scanner - it does not use much system resources or slow it down. Total protection suites that come pre-installed on computers sometimes consume more than 50% of system resources, leaving you with a sub-par PC user experience.
It's Free
Paid anti-virus alternatives require annual subscriptions for continual access to updated virus definition files. Typically, this can be from $40 to $60 a year. Grisoft is able to provide AVG Free Edition for free, making the software available at a cost to them, by relying on the sales of their regular subscription-based AVG Anti-Virus. Expensive annual subscriptions do not necessary mean better protection for your system. AVG meets the UC Minimum Network Security Standard as a sufficient anti-virus protection alternative.
ResNet Anti-Virus Recommendation for Macs
Clam AV is a popular free anti-virus for Unix-based operating systems (including Macs). However, it may require compilation, is a command-line based program only, and has no graphical user interface.
Fortunately, there is a third-party software solution that uses the Clam AV virus scan engine. Designed for Mac OS X, ClamXav is a graphical user interface that uses the ClamAV virus scanning engine. ClamXav also makes it easy to schedule system scans and check for updated virus definition files. ClamXav can be downloaded for free at http://www.clamxav.com and setup instructions can be found on the website's quick-start guide.
After installing ClamXav, you will need manually configure the program. In the program's preferences, turn on automatic virus definition updates and select the option to check for updated virus definition files. Before doing this, ClamXav will not have updated virus definition files.
ClamXav is managed by an individual, Mark Allan, and any problems that you might encounter with the software can be brought to his attention on the ClamXav support forum.
Other Anti-virus Software Pacakges
- Norton Antivirus - available at the bookstore
- McAfee Antivirus - available at the bookstore
Free Online Virus Scans
- McAfee Free Online Scan - will detect viruses, but won't help you remove them.
- Symantec Free Online Scan - will detect viruses, but won't help you remove them.
- Trend Micro Online Scan - will detect viruses and remove them.
Free Virus Removal Tool Downloads
- McAfee AVERT Stinger - detects and removes a limited number of viruses.
Free Firewall Software Download
- ZoneAlarm - protects machines without built-in Firewall service from internet attacks.
