Infections within the University are spread mostly by diskettes. E-mail can be forged. Do not be fooled into running a program, providing a password, disabling your virus protection, or enabling Word macros just because an e-mail message asks you to do so. System administrators generally do not require your personal password to assist you and should never ask you for your password by e-mail. Maintain at least two backup copies of critical documents and data in addition to the copy on your hard drive.
Backups are essential to safely recover from virus infections.
Virus Alert Messages are sent out to inform the University Community about computer viruses that pose an immediate significant threat to the integrity of University computer systems. Also, do not use your computer or share data from your computer until Help Desk personnel give you the OK to do so. Unlike many other viruses, macro viruses infect documents rather than programs. The Worm A worm is a virus, which reproduces by copying itself over and over again. Worms generally use networks to spread.