If you use Windows as your Operating System (OS), be sure your system is updated with the latest Critical Updates from Microsoft, as this will help to prevent remote users from exploiting your system without your knowledge and ensure integrity of your system and its data.

We have several type of tools we suggest trying as a resolution to an existing problem and others we suggest as a preventative tool.  Please look in the category according to your need.

Operating System Updates

Microsoft Windows Update.  - We suggest turning on automatic updates and installing anything labeled as critical without delay.  This is one of the easiest and most routine things your PC can do to protect itself against potential issues.  You need to access this with  Microsoft Internet Explorer.

If you are not sure of your Windows Internet settings, run this tool to determine what they are.

Anti-Virus Updates

Every PC should have anti-virus protection installed. It also needs to be updated regularly. University of Virginia students can download and install Norton Anti-Virus from the ITC download page.  Please read the documentation associated with your anti-virus software to make sure it is updating on a regular basis. It is also important to know how to tell the program to scan your system if you have an issue.

We highly recommend updating your current anti-virus signature files on your computer and doing a full scan of your hard drive before calling problems of an intermittent nature to us. With the most recent virus outbreaks, it is possible your computer has an infection of some sort.

If you have a prevalent virus and it disables your anti-virus program, you can always use this standalone detection and removal tool (Windows PC’s). Simply save it to your desktop and run it when the "STINGER" icon appears.  This is not a substitute for an anti-virus application for your PC, but as a remedy to get one working again.

If you do not have a virus scanning software, we suggest you try using AVG anti-virus, it’s free and there is a Windows version here . 

If you believe your system is infected or compromised, we suggest you run Housecall from TrendMicro (Windows PC’s only) if your anti-virus is not functioning or is out of date and you are unable to update it at this time.

Spyware, Adware and Malware

These are usually unwanted programs that could exhibit one or more of the following characteristics on your PC:

Your Internet “home page" for your Internet browser is “hijacked", and every time you open your web browser you are transported elsewhere contrary to your wishes.; You begin to receive pop-up ads even when your web browser is turned off. Your PC takes a very long time to get to your desktop and is very slow to open any program.; Icons you have never seen appear in your system tray (the corner of your screen where the time is usually displayed.

These unwanted programs have a detrimental effect on your individual Internet and PC performance.

Also, to cut down on scanning time, we suggest "dumping" your Internet Cache. It may sound ugly, but it's a good idea to get rid of existing cookies and downloaded web pages and their elements (graphics, etc.) before scanning. Doing this could cut your scanning time in half and automatically fix some problems. Go to your Control Panel and click on your Internet Options icon (depending on the view of your Control Panel, you may find it inside the "Network  and Internet Connections" folder. Open  "Internet  Options" and on the General tab, click  the button "Delete Files...", check the box  "Delete all offline content" and click  "OK". When that has completed,  click "Delete Cookies..." and click "OK".

Spware Blaster is a free prevention tool. If you install it, make sure you tell it to update itself before having it immunize your system. Once you have done this, we suggest you consider turning on the tea-timer function (found in the advanced mode menu), which will help notify you that unwanted programs are trying to "auto-start" with your computer and give you the option to disallow these actions.

Ad Aware is a spyware detection/removal tool, when you run the program make sure you check for updates and then scan your system. We suggest letting it remove everything it finds.

Spybot Search and Destroy is another very good program for removing unwanted applications.  Make sure you update the program before letting it scan and remove things. If you use the "Tea Timer" function in version 1.4 and cannot read the display box to allow or deny  a specific item, you should turn off TeaTimer, download and replace the TeaTimer.exe in "C:\Program Files/ Spybot Search & Destroy" with this one we've recompiled to make the dialogue box taller so it can be read properly. Once you have the new file, make sure you turn TeaTimer back on.

These programs do not run all the time like an anti-virus application and they can all be installed and used as you feel prudent.  You may be surprised at the results and may find your computer and the Internet get a little faster.

Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool:

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool checks computers running Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software—including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom—and helps remove any infection found. When the detection and removal process is complete, the tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any, malicious software was detected and removed.

Microsoft releases an updated version of this tool on the second Tuesday of each month, and as needed to respond to security incidents. You can run the tool from this Web page anytime or download it to your computer.

• Windows Update delivers versions for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 SP1.
• Microsoft Update delivers versions for Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003.
• Microsoft Download Center has versions for all supported Windows versions.
   
  Note  The version of the tool delivered by Microsoft Update and Windows Update runs in the background and then reports if an infection is found. If you would like to run this tool more than once a month, use the version on this Web page or install the version that is available in the Download Center.

Because computers can appear to function normally when infected, Microsoft advises you to run this tool even if your computer seems to be fine. You should also use up-to-date antivirus software to help protect your computer from other malicious software.

Note  You must be logged on to your computer with an account that is part of the Administrators group to run this tool.

It is also very possible that several concurrent infections can disable your PC’s ability to communicate on the Internet altogether. It may be necessary to reset your protocol stack of your Windows PC. Do not use this tool unless instructed as improper use may damage your system.