Spam and Other Annoyances
Virus | Worm | Spam | Spyware | Pop-ups
SPAM
What is Spam? The sending of identical and/or irrelevant posts to newsgroups or mailing lists. This posting is usually something that has nothing to do with the topic being discussed and is of no real interest to the recipient. Spam is considered to be a serious violation of netiquette. IT recommendation: Use the HKS SPAM filtering system
Cost
HKS IT funded and operated (no cost to HKS faculty and staff)
How to obtain
Enable your SPAM rule in Lotus Notes (see Lotus Notes Information for Faculty and Staff, search on SPAM and select 'Instructions for enabling your SPAM rule.')
Web information
http://www.networkassociates.com/us/about/press/corporate/2004/20040211_091107.htm
HKS Servers have software to detect Spam. If you wish E-Mail tagged as Spam to be sent to a separate folder, you can easily enable a 'rule' in your Lotus Notes software.
Enable HKS Spam Rule - Block unwanted mail before it gets to your Lotus Notes inbox.
ScanMail and Spam Information
IT Services is pleased to provide ScanMail anti-virus software running on the faculty/staff email server. Scanmail is a software that searches all incoming mail for viruses and detaches them before they get to your computer.
ScanMail prevents the spread of viruses by scanning each email message for infected file attachments before delivering it to the recipient. When a message with an infected file attachment is detected, ScanMail will either clean, delete or replace the attachment before delivery. In either case, ScanMail sends a notification to whomever sent the virus. Please be aware that if you send a virus infected message, you will be notified automatically and asked to scan your hard drive for viruses.
ScanMail updates its virus pattern files multiple times per day. However as new viruses surface, there exists the possibility of receiving a virus before Scanmail has had a chance to update. Please be aware you should also maintain the McAfee virus software on your local computer. McAfee is locally installed on your computer, and IT distributes the virus update files to your computer directly on a regular basis. Remember to keep copies current on home machines as well.
VIRUS
What is a Virus? A malicious computer program that causes damage to the user's files on his/her computer by replicating itself on the user's computer system. A virus incorporates itself into other programs that are then shared among computer systems.
IT recommendation
McAfee anti-virus
Cost
Harvard site license (HKS IT funded, no cost to end user)
How to obtain
Initially all new computers are set up with McAfee. They are also set to receive automatic updates of new virus files. See your FSA for more details.
Web information
WORM
What is a Worm? A program that replicates itself over a computer network and usually performs malicious actions, such as using up the computer's resources and possibly shutting the system down.
IT recommendation
McAfee anti-virus and/or Microsoft Windows patches.
Cost
Harvard site license for McAfee (HKS IT funded, no cost to end user) and Microsoft (free downloads).
How to obtain
Initially all new computers are set up with McAfee. They are also set to receive automatic updates of new virus files. All new computers are set to receive automatic Windows updates directly from Microsoft via the Internet. See your FSA for more details.
Web information
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp
SPYWARE
What is Spyware? A technology that assists in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge. On the Internet, 'spyware is programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties.' As such, spyware is cause for public concern about privacy on the Internet. Several reputable websites, such as boston.com and nytimes.com install spyware on your machine.
IT recommendation
Spybot.
Cost
Free Download
How to obtain
Spybot Website
Web information
http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/
POP-UPS
What are Pop-ups? An advertisement that pops up on your screen. These are often obtained and/or pushed through by spyware. If Pop-ups occur when you visit non-profit sites (like HKS), there is a strong possibility that you have spyware.
IT recommendation
Google has a free pop up filter
Cost
Free from Google
How to obtain
Most new computers will have it installed as part of MS Windows or see your FSA. Or you can download the Google filter at http://toolbar.google.com/
Web information
http://toolbar.google.com/popup_help.html
