On behalf of the Johns Hopkins Institutions, Information Technology at Johns Hopkins has licensed Symantec Endpoint Protection, available for Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.  Johns Hopkins faculty, staff, and students may  download and use Symantec products at no cost on computers owned by the University or Health System, or on personally-owned computers, as long as they remain part of the Johns Hopkins community.  Personal use of the software must cease when the faculty member, staff member, or student leaves the University or Health System.

We also make available Microsoft's System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection, available for Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.  The software is freely available for your use but only on Johns Hopkins-owned computers.  The Windows version will allow the automatic uninstallation of prior Symantec, McAfee, and TrendMicro products, as well as Microsoft Forefront Client Security / Endpoint Protection AV agents.  This software is a standalone version that would be self-managed.  For personally-owned computers, the Endpoint Protection Downloads page offers a link to Microsoft Security Essentials, which can be used on any Windows computer.

Download access is restricted to those with a valid JHED LID (Johns Hopkins Enterprise Directory Login ID) and password.

News/Alerts

Current Virus Alert! No current virus alerts at this time.

Is my computer infected?

If your computer has the Johns Hopkins Symantec Endpoint Protection client installed from this web site, you can check this Sharepoint site (https://collaborate.johnshopkins.edu/sites/antivirus/SitePages/Home.aspx) to view the last 15 days of "Enterprise SEP Infected and At Risk Reports."  These reports list information on the threat detected.  Many of these may be temporary files that have been cached on your computer that can be deleted after closing the application that created them.

Malware Information and Advice

Malicious software include viruses, worms, trojans, adware, spyware and similar threats. "Malware" can slow down your computer or network access, steal private information, or be used by hackers to attack other machines.  It can be spread by opening e-mail attachments, visiting websites, using infected USB flash drives, CDs, or DVDs, or by installing disguised video players, playing infected media files, or even using purported anti-malware programs. Even careful and conscientious users can have malware on their computers. If you suspect that you have installed malware, you should:

1.  Ensure that your operating system has been recently updated using Windows Update or Microsoft Update for Windows systems, or Apple Software Update for Macintosh systems.

2.  Ensure that your anti-malware software is installed, working and up-to-date. Anti-malware software and support information is provided at:
  http://www.it.johnshopkins.edu/antivirus/downloads/index.html

3.  Ensure that you have updated other programs such as Adobe Acrobat Reader and Professional (for PDF files), Oracle Java, Microsoft Office, Adobe Flash. Most computers that are managed by a desktop support group at Hopkins maintain appropriate patch levels.

4.  Install and run a secondary anti-malware tool, such as Malwarebytes, AdAware, SpyBot, ComboFix, RKILL, or Hitman Pro.  (NOTE: If your computer is supported by your local IT support professional or LAN Administrator, contact them first to check for and repair malware infections -- they may have increased rights to manage or install software on your system.)

Even if you do all of the above, you may still have malware installed on your machine. 

More Computer Security Information

• Symantec Security Response
• Malwarebytes.org (alternative free tools for identifying and removing malware)
• Microsoft Safety Scanner (free but limited time use threat scanning tool)
• RKILL (attempts to terminate malware processes so normal security software can run and clean infections)
• ComboFix (scans computer for known malware and attempts to clean infection automatically)
• Hitman Pro (alternative free tools for identifying and removing malware)
• VirusTotal (free online service to scan suspicious files for malware threats)
• Latest Sophos Information on Viruses and Hoaxes
• EDUCAUSE Resources - Spyware/Adware
• CERT® Coordination Center
• SANS Top 20 Internet Security Vulnerabilities
• Secunia.com (vulnerabilities in Web Browsers and other software)
• Internet Storm Center
• Microsoft Malware Protection Center
• McAfee Anti-Virus Center
• F-Secure Security Information Center
• F-Secure Corporation Hoax Warnings
• Trend Micro™ Virus Information Center

For more information about Symantec Endpoint Protection or System Center Endpoint Protection that you cannot find here or on the company's web site, or if you are on the Johns Hopkins networks and cannot download software, please e-mail Client Technology Solutions.