Last Friday was the deadline for the new Symantec Antivirus software to be installed on every computer in the Temple University network. Because of massive virus attacks throughout the university’s network, Temple purchased the software “to protect the entire network that computer users work on,” said Ariel Silverstone, Chief Information Security Officer.
For the past two years Temple has used Network Associates McAfee Antivirus as their software provider. In mid-August, the university’s network was hit with a new computer worm that spread rapidly through the Internet.
The worm affected all computers that ran on Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows 2003and caused more than $500,000 in damage.
The new software was proposed last March. Over the summer, a committee of 14 people, led by Silverstone, made a list of about 100 different criteria they hoped the new software would meet.
Silverstone said the new software would clearly be better for students, teachers and staff of the university. The program will “[automatically update], detect and eliminate any virus in the system by itself,” Silverstone said.
If the software was not downloaded before Nov. 21, Temple network users will not be able to connect to anything, not even the Internet.
“Everything will be disabled, not just the Temple network,” Silverstone said.
Various announcements and e-mails have been sent to everyone who connects through the network. The software can easily be downloaded from antivirus.temple.edu.
It is also possible to purchase the software on a CD. The software will include a license for use until June 2005. The CD will be available only to current students, staff and faculty who have a valid Temple ID. Those who are registered through the Temple network, however, do not need to purchase the software because they are already covered by the on-campus site license.
Any old antivirus software should be uninstalled as well. The old software must be uninstalled by the end of this year.
Those who need assistance with the software can contact the Computer Services Help Desk at (215) 204-8000.
Eric Cortes can be reached at mvscap@temple.edu.
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