Using Symantec Antivirus

Widespread computer viruses, worms, trojans and other malware are something all computer users must be cautious about. To prevent infection on your PC keep your Windows OS updated and install an anti-virus software tool. Be sure to keep your anti-virus program updated with the lastest virus definitions. If your computer does not come with anti-virus software, free Symantec Anti-virus software is available to Stern students.

Before installing the Symantec Antivirus software, be sure to remove all older version of the software from your system. To remove a program from a Windows PC, click Start, Settings, Control Panel and then click on the Add/remove Programs Icon. Locate the program you wish to remove and click remove.

After you have installed Symantec Antivirus, follow these steps to scan and treat your computer:

1. Locate Symantec under Start->Programs or double-click the Symantec icon in the menu next to the clock on the lower left corner of your screen.

2. When the window pops up, click on the LiveUpdate button to update your virus definitions. Your computer must be connected to the internet in order to perform this update. We recommend scheduling your computer to check for updates automatically at least once a day.

3. To scan your computer for virus infections, click on the Scan option in the menu on the left, then select Scan computer. You will be given a menu for you to select which drives you would like to scan. The simplest option would be to check the box next to My Computer, which will automatically check all of the boxes below, allowing you to scan every file that your computer currently has access to. If you are certain that a particular drive is safe, you may uncheck the box and click Scan once you are ready. This process can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on how many files and programs you have on your hard drive.