Client Validation System

The Binghamton University Client Validation System will allow you to validate your computer in order to ensure that it is running proper antivirus and that it is up to date with all critical patches. Validation will allow you to gain access to campus networking resources.

Throughout the summer of 2006 Computing Services will be adding a layer of security to all publicly accessible network ports. This will require that users pass their computers through a validation process before they can access the network on these ports. This process includes a check for valid antivirus, critical updates and authentication using a PODs id. Public ports that will be added to the system include those in lecture halls, classrooms, library study carrels, and ports available in common areas. This does not include network ports in offices.

Users can pre-register at the following website: http://campus.verify.binghamton.edu/

Data Security

Data security threats can take many forms; however, developing good practices can minimize your exposure and make intrusion more difficult. (more...)

Computer Viruses

New computer viruses are appearing all the time so it's important to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date. Computing Services provides the latest versions of anti-virus software on the web to the Binghamton University community for both the Windows and Macintosh platforms. You can also get anti-virus software from the Help Desk.

Real Virus or Virus Hoax?

"Help!  I've just received E-mail from a friend telling me about a terrible new virus on the internet.  If you read this certain email message, it will erase your hard disk, and permanently damage your computer!  What should I do!?"

First you should realize that there are a lot of hoax virus warnings out there, so many in fact that the CIAC, (the U.S. Department of Energy Computer Incident Advisory Capability) wrote:

The Internet is constantly being flooded with information about computer viruses and Trojans. However, interspersed among real virus notices are computer virus hoaxes.  While these hoaxes do not infect systems, they are still time consuming and costly to handle. At CIAC, we find that we are spending much more time de-bunking hoaxes than handling real virus incidents. ...

"How can I find out if this virus warning is for real?"

Don't believe your friend, go to the real virus experts, if the threat is real, one of these sources will probably be able to tell you more about it than your friend can. If you are looking for a good place to start, check out these fine papers from IBM's Antivirus Online site:

Hoaxes & Hypes
How to Spot a Virus Hoax

For more information, consult these sources on viruses and hoaxes.