Security policy write-up for the antivirus spyware and adware policies

Malware is very difficult to remove. Malware programs can seldom be uninstalled by conventional means. In some cases, you may have to reinstall your operating system to get rid of the infection completely. Malware threatens your privacy. Malware programs are known for gathering personal information and relaying it to advertisers and other third parties. The information most typically collected includes your browsing and shopping habits, your computer's IP address, or your identification information.

Some types of malware contain files commonly identified as Trojan viruses. Others leave your computer vulnerable to viruses. Regardless of type, malware is notorious for being at the root, whether directly or indirectly, of virus infection, causing conflicts with legitimate software and compromising the security of any operating system, Windows or Macintosh.

What is Malware? They are very efficient at what they do, but they will only protect against malicious programs that are known, and only if kept updated. The good news is, there are countless types of malicious software that antivirus companies know about, and they are becoming more and more efficient at discovering new varieties every day.

With an antivirus program configured with regular updates and scans, users should feel safe from known threats. AntiVirus Antivirus software is designed to find known viruses and oftentimes other malware such as Ransomware, Trojan Horses, worms, spyware, adware, etc. An antivirus program could have stopped this if: The malicious software was known to the antivirus company. The antivirus program was up to date. We recommend that users take several steps to avoid infection by a virus or malware.

The first step a user must make is to decide which antivirus program will be best for them. There are many free and paid versions of antivirus programs available. Unfortunately, you cannot fully remove most spyware and adware programs by using the uninstall option in the Windows Add or Remove Programs control panel. This is document anfs in the Knowledge Base. Last modified on Skip to: content search login. Skip to main content.

Statement of policy All computer devices connected to WMUnet shall have anti-virus software installed and regular operating system updates performed. Purpose This rule is designed to help prevent infection of Western Michigan University computers, networks, and technology systems by computer viruses and other malicious code.

Rule statements All computer devices connected to the Western Michigan University network or networked resources shall have anti-virus software installed and configured so that the virus definition files are current, routinely and automatically updated. The anti-virus software must be actively running on these devices. All computers owned by the University and used by faculty and staff must have the most recent version of anti-virus provided by the University installed.