Western Illinois University - University Technology - Security/Special Projects - Information Security - National Cyber Security Awareness Month - Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)

Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)

1. Use either the built-in Windows XP firewall or 3rd party firewalls (such as Symantec) but use a firewall. Be aware that multiple firewalls cannot be used simultaneously.

Norton Anti-virus security options with firewall protection on

Figure 1 Recommend letting the firewall make protection decisions at its less user intrusive

2. Use Microsoft’s FREE anti-spyware protection Windows Defender (Download Windows Defender here).

Windows defender screen with various automatic scanning options set to scan daily

Figure 2 Recommend daily checks for updates & full scans

3. Ensure that you have anti-malware protection installed and that it is properly licensed and updated. If anti-malware software is purchased outside the university, it must be renewed annually to ensure continued protection. Anti-malware protection will also typically include anti-spyware, as does Windows Defender (see #2 above), but I recommend using both simultaneously as they tend to play well together.

Finish screen of Norton LiveUpdate

Figure 3 Recommend updating malware signatures automatically and prior to any manual scans

Norton Internet Security screen showing various task and scan settings

Figure 4 Recommend minimally daily quick virus scans & weekly full scans

4. Recommend turning on all malware protection features (such as firewall, intrusion protection (IPS), anti-spyware, auto protect, etc.).

Norton Internet Security showing real time protection of files

Figure 5 Auto-protection allows for real-time protection of files

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