NDSU has seen worms with many variants proliferate through campus computers. Some worms work through the network, others work through e-mail. In a four-day period, over 500 computers connected to the campus network were infected with variants of the Sasser worm.
The Sasser worm, which works through the Internet, is a silent monster.
If you aren't current with your patching, you will most likely be infected.
What will this cause?
Worms cause downtime, loss of productivity, and loss of network services, to name a few things.
Please keep your machines current with the latest updates. It's a hassle, particularly if you don't have SUS (Software Update Service), but it takes far less time to update with the patches than it does to have your machine cleaned and patched or rebuilt.
NDSU offers automatic clean-up tools for users to download to their computers. Think of the automatic clean-up tools as giving your computer its daily vitamin pill to keep it healthy.
If you suspect your computer may be infected, see (insert link).
SUS is an automatic update application for Windows 2000 and XP fixes available for all NDUS staff, faculty, and students. This application automatically downloads the most current patches to your machine.
When a window pops up asking you to reboot your machine, please do so. If you don't reboot, the patches will not be in place and your computer will not be protected.
If you maintain your computer, and want to install SUS, it can be downloaded from the ITS web site: (insert link)
If your computer is maintained by an IT technician, check with that person to make sure you have SUS installed on your computer.
HECN-South offers FREE MacAfee antivirus software that may be downloaded by all NDUS staff, faculty, and students.
If you don't have antivirus software loaded on your computer, install it now. This software can be found for download at the ITS Web site: (insert link)
If you have antivirus software loaded on your computer, be sure to check on a daily basis for new updates.