ARCHIVED: Where can I find information on computer viruses?

For virus information of particular interest to Indiana University, visit the Information Technology Security Office (ITSO) web page.

For information about current viruses, check Symantec's Security Response site.

For information about current viruses and news about the antivirus industry, you can read the virus page of SecurityFocus.

For information about older viruses, use the Symantec search feature.

During outbreaks, you can also find information about how to combat specific viruses at IU by searching the Knowledge Base. For more information, see the Knowledge Base search help.

Below are other noteworthy virus databases on the web:

• F-Secure
• McAfee Security Center
• Computer Associates Virus Encyclopedia
• The FAQ for the Usenet newsgroup comp.virus is a good source for basic information about viruses, including the definitions of various terms and answers for common concerns.

Note: The University Information Security Office (UISO) recommends that you run the latest version of Symantec/Norton AntiVirus software (available to IU students, faculty, and staff for free via IUware) for your operating system, being sure to upgrade safely (see In Windows, how do I safely upgrade to the latest Symantec Endpoint or AntiVirus software?) and that you update your virus definitions daily and scan your computer weekly. For instructions, see:

• Windows: In Symantec/Norton AntiVirus for Windows, how do I schedule automatic LiveUpdates and virus scans?
• Mac OS and OS X: In Norton AntiVirus for Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I schedule automatic LiveUpdates and virus scans?

Also see:

• What are computer viruses, and where can I find more information?
• What is Microsoft Word's macro virus protection tool, and how do I activate it?
• What are spambots and IRC bots, and why are they dangerous?
• What should I do if my computer has a virus?