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NEWS: QUB internet problems caused by students’ lack of protection
Students’ failure to use up-to-date antivirus software on their personal laptops has recently caused significant problems to internet access on QUB computers.
Brendan Hughes
Problems arose on Tuesday, when students attempting to surf the web were presented with perpetual ‘loading’ screens. While access to Queen’s sites appeared unaffected, external site availability seemed haphazard.
Mr Jim Cunningham from the IT Systems & Services department at Queen’s, said, “The problem stems from students not using up to date antivirus on their laptops.”
“Janet Cert, who we connect to for internet access, sent us a series of complaints about machines in other universities being attacked by QUB-based IP addresses. To prevent us from being ‘kicked off’ the network, we had to take prompt action, and turned on a tool that weeds out outward bound attacks…This tool caused the performance problem. Without exact details of source of the problem, at short notice we had no choice but to scan all traffic for virus content.”
Mr Cunningham said they are tackling the problem, and that for the vast majority of students and staff at Queen’s, internet access should now be back to normal. He also advised all Queen’s students using laptops to ensure they use up-to-date Antivirus and Firewall software to lessen these sorts of issues in future.
“It is a common problem each year as new student machines start connecting to the network…Computer users have different skill/knowledge levels and this will always be the case, whether staff or student. Generally this is more a case of lack of knowledge about the risks or what is available.
Free Antiviris and Firewall software options are discussed at:
Tags: computer, firewall, Gown, internet, laptop, News, newspaper, qub, Queen's, queen's university, student, The Gown, virus
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 6:24 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Hmm… maybe if I had some money, this would be usesful information for me!
Has anyone had problems with their laptops at QUB?
Upgrade to a Better Browser. Make the switch to Firefox – the faster, safer, smarter way to browse the Web.
Use free AVG or AVAST as your anti virus.
Keep up the excellent work guys!
Wear a rubber … always.
my antivirus programme is extrememly up to date yet my laptop was attacked by the visa antivirus pro 2010 virus which i am 99% sure came from downloading from queens