Antivirus Tools
All computers connected to the NIU network should be running antivirus software.
NIU has a campus-wide site license for McAfee antivirus products. There are limited licenses for off-campus use by NIU faculty, students, and staff.
Updating McAfee VirusScan
The current versions of McAfee VirusScan are configured to look for updates daily. However, older versions may not do this regularly. Users of the current version without a constant connection to the Internet will not receive their updates regularly, either. Finally, there may be recommendations to manually download an update when more than one update is released during a single day.
For detailed instructions regarding updating your McAfee antivirus software, see the Helpdesk's Updating McAfee VirusScan page.
Faculty and Staff Computers
Go to http://www.staff.niu.edu/provisioning for McAfee AntiVirus. You need Administrator access to your computer. Contact your LAN Administrator if you don't have it. Detailed instructions follow:
- If you currently have any antivirus software except VirusScan version 8.0i installed on your computer, uninstall your current antivirus software. (This may require restarting your computer.)
- Close any applications that are currently running, except a web browser.
- Go to http://www.staff.niu.edu/provisioning and log in.
- Select "Proceed to available services." (Repeat visitors may not need to complete this step.)
- Select "View Available Downloads."
- Select "Virus prevention and removal."
- Select the "Download" link associated with "McAfee AntiVirus."
- Read the "McAfee Products Acceptance Form". If this is an off-campus installation, pay special attention to the contract duration. You are expected to discontinue use of the software when the contract expires. If you are still affiliated with NIU, you can install new software associated with a new contract. Signify your agreement to the contract/licensing agreement by selecting "Agree" from the pull-down list near the bottom of the page and selecting the "Submit" button. (Repeat visitors may not need to complete this step.)
- Once your agreement has been recorded, select the "Continue" button. (Repeat visitors may not need to complete this step.)
- Read and confirm the total number of licenses you are using. If you are using an additional license for a new computer, please indicate this by incrementing the number.
- Once the number of licenses has been corrected, select the "Continue" button.
- Select the "Download" link associated with your operating system. Any personal computers that will be directly connected to the NIU network are required to have the Enterprise version.
- Save the installation file to your computer.
- Exit all applications, and install your software.
Some of these steps may not be required on repeated visits to the site.
Disclaimer for McAfee VirusScan Enterprise System 8.0i:
This virus scanning software distribution is pre-configured to update the definition files (DAT files) on a daily basis from a local NIU network server. It is also configured with the Alert Manager component that, when a virus is detected, notifies ITS Security with the following information: file name, file location, virus name, scan engine version, definition file version, IP address of machine that the scan occurred on, user name of the user logged on to the machine, machine name, and virus scan software version. This alerting and notification process is automatic and necessary in order to provide ITS with the information that it needs to locate the source of computer viruses and to protect the NIU computer network.
Student Computers
Any personal computer or Macintosh owned by current NIU students can have McAfee VirusScan (or McAfee Virex for the Macintosh) downloaded from the internet. A valid Z-ID is required for this process, and students must agree to the NIU Acceptable Use Policy and the McAfee contract/licensing agreement before downloads are allowed. The software can be downloaded through the following steps:
- Log into your computer with an account that has Administrator access.
- If you currently have any antivirus software except VirusScan version 8.0i installed on your computer, uninstall your current antivirus software. (This may require restarting your computer.)
- Close any applications that are currently running, except a web browser.
- Go to http://www.students.niu.edu/provisioning and log in.
- Read the Acceptable Use Policy. Then signify your agreement by selecting "Agree" from the pull-down list near the bottom of the page and selecting the "Submit" button.
- Select "Proceed to available services."
- Select "View Available Downloads."
- Select the "Download" link associated with "McAfee AntiVirus".
- Read the "McAfee Products Student Users Acceptance Form". Pay special attention to the contract duration. You are expected to discontinue use of the software when the contract expires. If you are still a student affiliated with NIU, you can install new software associated with a new contract. Signify your agreement to the contract/licensing agreement by selecting "Agree" from the pull-down list near the bottom of the page and selecting the "Submit" button.
- Once your agreement has been recorded, select the "Continue" button.
- Select the "Download" link associated with your operating system.
- Save the installation file to your computer.
- Exit all applications, and install your software.
Some of these steps may not be required on repeated visits to the site.
Other University Affiliates
University affiliated individuals who are not covered by the categories of "Faculty/Staff" and "Student" (such as NIU Annuitants) may qualify (depending upon licensing restrictions) under the University license for McAfee antivirus products. See Software Licensing for further information.
