Information technology news and advice
Symantec Antivirus - Sophos Transition
SAV Corporate Antivirus software is being replaced with a new program, Sophos, that may be downloaded from the VCU website.
1. If you do not have Symantec Antivirus installed on your computer, you should go to http://www.ts.vcu.edu/security/virus.html
and select the link "Get a copy of Sophos AntiVirus Software (Windows 2000/XP)"
Then you will be asked for you eID and Password. The eID is your logon name for the mail, and the password - your password for getting your mail.
When you open the protected page, you should select SophosAV Win and download the file.
When you try to download the Sophos AntiSpy/AntiVirus program from the eID protected webpage you may get the message like -
Our current VCU status indicates you as NOT eligible to obtain
University licensed software.
then you should call 827-0068 to obtain a PIN and Software ID
with which you connect to the page -
https://www.pubapps.vcu.edu/wss/software/downloadFromMCV.asp
where you will download the Sophos program.
Before installation of Sophos, you will have to completely uninstall all other antivirus programs from the computer.
2. If you have Norton (Symantech) Antivirus SAV installed on your computer, please request me to give you a link to download the version of Sophos install file that automatically uninstalls Norton Antivirus.
It takes time to install and update but it is a very good product that takes care both of viruses and spies. It is recommended, yet, to have another antispy product on your computer - Windows Defender that is a different name for the previous Microsoft Antispy program. You may operate several antispy programs on a computer but only one antivirus!
When installing Sophos, you may be asked if you would wish to upgrade ASPI drivers, you should agree to this.
After Sophos completes a scan job, some of your programs may be marked as spies and viruses falsely. You should then open Sophos with a right click on its tray icon and go to quarantine manager and fix the false positives.
Sophos does not delete any files on its own, it only inhibits execution of the files it considers to be viruses or malware.
Get the names of false positives from "Manage quarantine items" and enter their names in "Configure Sophos Antivirus | Authorized application list"
You may also need to go to "Configure Sophos Antivirus", select "On demand extensions and exclusions" and under the tab "Exclusions" add the programs that have been marked as viruses but you are sure these are the good programs you want to use.
