Frequently asked questions about Virus & SPAM Issues. If you would like to suggest adding another item to this list,
please contact the Student Computing Support Desk by filling out an online form.

Virus and Spam Issues
• How to Configure Outlook to Delete SPAM on Your Windows-based Computer
• How to Configure Entourage to Delete SPAM on Your Macintosh
• Does HMS provide anti-virus software for the Mac?
• Download and Installation Guide of Symantec Corporate Anti-Virus Edition
• How do I uninstall a previous version of Symantec from Windows?
• How do I uninstall a previous version of Symantec from my Mac?
• How do I remove the Symantec icon on the menu bar of my Mac?
• Cleaning a Virus-Infected Floppy
• Cleaning a Virus-Infected Network Folder
• Free Web-based Virus Scanner and Removal Tools
• Free Anti-Spyware Software
• Fight Against Spam!
• Report SPAM Directly to Symantec via Outlook

Virus and Spam Issues

How to Configure Outlook to Delete SPAM on Your Windows-based Computer

1. Click on the Start menu. Go into the Control Panel.
2. Click on the Mail icon. A Mail Setup - Outlook dialog window will appear.
3. Click the button, E-mail Accounts.
4. Select View or change existing e-mail accounts.
5. Click the button, Add.
6. Click on the select button, Microsoft Exchange Server Connect to an exchange server to read e-mail, access public folders, and share documents. Click Next.
7. Enter mailserver02 in the textbox, Microsoft Exchange Server:. Then, enter your last name, and click the button, Check Name.
8. Highlight your name in the list under the Change to text area. Click OK.
9. Click on the button, More Settings….
10. Click on the tab, Connection. Click the select button, Connect using my Local Area Network (LAN). Click Apply and then OK in the window, Microsoft Exchange Server.
11. Click the Next button in the window, Exchange Server Settings:.
12. Click Finish.
13. Click OK in the window, User Name.
14. Click on the Tools menu and highlight Rules Wizard….
15. Click on the button, New…, and highlight More messages based on content.
16. Click on specific words in the text area, Rule description (click on an underlined value to edit it):.
17. Enter the designated tag that you want deleted and click Add. Click OK. (NOTE: If you have other designated emails that you want to delete, write the specified words in and add it to the list.)
18. Click specified folder in the subject or body in the text area, Rule description (click on an underlined value to edit it):.
19. Highlight a folder in your mailbox to designate tagged SPAM messages (e.g., Deleted Items) in the window, Rules Wizard. Click OK.
20. Click the buttons, Next, four times. Select the checkbox, Run this rule now on messages already in "Inbox".
21. Click Finish upon successful completion.

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How to Configure Entourage to Delete SPAM on Your Macintosh

1. Launch Entourage.
2. Click on the Tools menu. Under the Level tab, highlight Junk Email Protection... and its dialog window will appear.
3. Set the "What level of junk e-mail protection would you like?".
4. Enter the amount of days that you want in Delete messages from the junk E-mail folder older than option.
5. Under the tab, Safe Domains, enter domains such as .edu, .gov, or whatever you believe is a safe domain to include. 6. Click the button, OK.
7. NOTE: Add only trusted folks to your address book so that Entourage will know who is acceptable.

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Does HMS provide anti-virus software for the Mac?

Yes. Matriculating registered predoctoral students are allowed a single licensed copy of Symantec Anti-Virus Edition for their Windows-based PC (Vista or XP) or Macintosh-based PC (OS X). See the Download and Installation Guide of Symantec Corporate Anti-Virus Edition below.

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Download and Installation Guide of Symantec Corporate Anti-Virus Edition

All predoctoral students at HMS must have anti-virus software on their computers. HMS provides a single license of Symantec Corporate AntiVirus™ for each matriculating HMS predoctoral student who own either a Windows-based PC (Vista or XP) or a Macintosh-based PC (OS X) .

You need to put a request into Student Computing to access and download the zipped installer or dmg file. Fill out the following online information with the following request: SAV Download, Windows XP, Windows Vista or Mac, your name, HUID, your MyCourses username, your program (HMS, HSDM, HST, DMS), and your phone number so that we can contact you.

Once you have been contacted by Student Computing, download the zipped SAV file for either Windows XP, Windows Vista, or SAV dmg file for the Mac and carefully follow the instructions below:

VERY IMPORTANT: Uninstall any existing anti-virus software on your computer before implementing the steps below.

1. Log into your MyCourses account at http://mycourses.med.harvard.edu.
2. Click on the Applications link in the upper left corner.
3. Scroll down and click on the Online Storage link.
4. Click on the My Collaborations in the left column below My Files.
5. Click on the Student SAV folder.




6. Check off the appropriate zip file: SAVVISTA.zip, SAVXP.zip. For Mac users, follow these instructions.
7. Double-click on the name of the zip file. A dialog box will open up and prompt you to save the zip file to your hard drive. Save the file in your Downloads folder on your c: drive or wherever this folder is located on your c: drive.
8. Unzip the file by double clicking and save the folder onto your c: drive.
9. Go into the folder and double click on the Setup.exe file.
10. Follow the installer wizard and you should be good to go!




NOTE: Occassionally, you should manually check to see if your virus definitions are up-to-date by clicking on the Live Update button. Unlike the image above, it will not be grayed out.

Symantec Installation Guide for Macintosh

VERY IMPORTANT: Uninstall any existing anti-virus software on your computer before implementing the steps below.

1. Click on the SAV 10 for MAC (CD Version) folder in My Collaborations/Student SAV folder.
2. Download the Symantec_AntiVirus_10.0_for_Macintosh_EN.dmg file to your Mac's desktop.
3. Click on the dmg file to decompress the Symantec AntiVirus 10 CD to your desktop.
4. Click on the icon Symantec AntiVirus Installer in the dialog box.
5. Follow out the wizard steps by clicking Continue and then Install buttons.
6. Make sure that you do a Live Update to download the latest virus definitions and the product update itself.
7. Set your Symantec Scheduler to receive definitions and updates on a daily basis.

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How do I uninstall a previous version of Symantec from Windows?

1. Go to the Start menu, Settings, and then Control Panel.
2. Click on Add or Remove Programs.
3. Look for Symantec and click on the Change/Remove button.
4. If you have been prompted to do a restart of your computer, do Steps 1 and 2, and remove Live Update and any other Symantec-related items in the dialog window.

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How do I uninstall a previous version of Symantec from my Mac?

NOTE: This is a new version of the Symantec Uninstaller version 1.0.2 that was updated for compatibility with Mac OS X 10.4 (code named Tiger). You may use this uninstaller to remove any Symantec Macintosh Mac OS X product.

1. Go to the Symantec's site and download the file, symantec_uninstaller_102.sit to your Mac's desktop.
2. Decompress by clicking on symantec_uninstaller_102.sit.
3. Click on the Symantec Uninstaller file.

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How do I remove the Symantec icon from the menu of my Mac?

NOTE: If you have uninstalled your Symantec and notice the menu icon still existing, go to the following site below and run the RemoveSymantecMacFiles removal utility on your Mac.

1. Go to the Symantec's site and choose the appropriate removal tool for your Symantec version on your Mac: Symantec Removal Tool and place it on your desktop.
2. Decompress the file.
3. Run the removal tool and reboot. You should notice that the Symantec icon on the menu bar is no longer there.

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Cleaning a Virus-Infected Floppy

Student Computing scans all students' network folders every night. These daily scans help to eliminate nearly all infected files in your student network folder. Additionally, Student Computing scans all of its Windows-based PC computers every night. Each of the Apple Computers has been set up as a Safe Zone so that all documents placed there are automatically scanned as well. This can also be used to test individual files. Lastly, anti-virus definitions are updated weekly on both Windows-based and Macintosh-based PCs.

It is strongly recommended that students scan their portable storage (e.g., 3 1/2 floppies, zip disks) with files and home computers before securely FTPing to their student network folder. See instructions on how to copy files into and from your student network folder.

Symantec Anti-Virus Edition v10 for Windows
1. Scanning Portable Storage
2. Cleaning Infected Files
Norton Anti-Virus v10 for Macintosh
1. Scanning Portable Storage
2. Cleaning Infected Files

If you encounter a problem during the scanning of your student network folder, please contact the Student Computing Support Desk by filling out an online form.


Symantec Anti-Virus Edition v10 for Windows

The PCs are currently using Symantec Anti-Virus Corporate Edition 10.2, which will help to prevent a virus from infecting the student workstation.

Scanning Portable Storage

Insert the floppy disk, and then launch Symantec. It is under Programs in the Start menu. Highlight Scan a Floppy Disk in the left window. Check 3 1/2 Floppy (A:) and/or Removable Disk (D:) to scan your disks in the appropriate drives. Click the Scan button.



A window, Scan a Floppy Disk, will open and scan your removable disks as in the window dialog box below.



If infected files are found, Symantec will quaratine them and repair as necessary.


Symantec Anti-Virus Corporate Edition v10.2 for Macintosh

The Macs are currently using Symantec Anti-Virus v10 (NAV). SAV is currently set to scan CDs and Zip Disks as they are inserted, so infected files will show up when you insert your disk.

Scanning Portable Storage



If a virus is detected in any file on a removable (floppy or zip) disk, an alert will come up, offering to launch NAV to deal with the problem. Click the Scan/Repair button, and the application will launch. It will automatically rescan the disk, and list all infected files in red text.

Cleaning Infected Files

To clean the files, select each one (either individually or by using a shift-click), and then click the Repair button. From the next dialog box, you should select either Scan/Repair ; the second option will make a copy of the original file before attempting a repair. Each filename will revert to plain text as it is cleaned. Click Done when all the files are cleaned.

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Cleaning a Virus-Infected Network Folder

Student Computing scans all student network folders every night. These daily scans help to eliminate nearly all infected files in your student network folder. Additionally, Student Computing scans all of its Windows-based PC computers every night. Each of the Apple Computers has been set up as a Safe Zone so that all documents placed there are automatically scanned as well. This can also be used to test individual files. Lastly, anti-virus definitions are updated weekly on both Windows-based and Macintosh-based PCs.

It is strongly recommended that students scan their home computers and portable storage (e.g., 3 1/2 floppies, zip disks) with files before securely FTPing to their student network folder. (See instructions on how to copy files into and from your student network folder.) Additionally, make sure that you update your anti-virus definitions on a weekly basis.

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Free Online Virus Scanner, Removal Tools, and Anti-Virus Softwares

1. Micro Trend's HouseCall
2. BitDefender
3. Symantec's Removal Tools
4. McAfee AVERT Removal Tool
6. Other Free Anti-Virus Softwares

NOTE: Using a combination of the tools above will assist you in removing the majority of viruses off of your computer.
If you have any questions, please contact the Student Computing Support Desk by filling out an online form.


Micro Trend's Housecall
"HouseCall Online Scanner can only detect viruses already on your system at the time of your visit. Protecting your system against computer viruses typically requires two steps. First a scan of your existing system (which HouseCall does), then a continuous scan of all file activity (or real-time protection) which is done through the installation of antivirus software. If you open an infected Word document attached to a new email or insert an infected diskette into your computer, HouseCall won’t detect it."



Go to Micro Trend's Site now to remotely scan your computer.


BitDefender Online Scanner
BitDefender Online Scanner is a great tool that Student Computing uses to deworm machines infected with viruses, trojans, spyware and malware. We swear by it! Make sure that you boot into Safe Mode with a Windows-based machine and choose Safe Mode with Networking to access the Internet.




Symantec's Removal Tools
Viruses have become increasingly complex and virus infections involve more system elements than ever before. Symantec Security Response has developed tools to automatically conduct what would often amount to extensive and tedious manual removal tasks. If your system has become infected, Symantec's Removal tools should aid you in repairing the damage.

See Symantec's Removal Tools at http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/tools.list.html. If you need more assistance, call Symantec Support at 1-800-721-3934.




McAfee AVERT Removal Tool (Stinger)
Stinger is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system. Stinger utilizes next generation scan engine technology, including process scanning, digitally signed DAT files, and scan performance optimizations..

Download Stinger at http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/. If you need more assistance, call Network Associates at (888) 847-8766 (888-VIRUSNO).

Free Anti-Spyware Software

These applications are only for Windows-based PCs. It is highly recommended that you use both tools.

Note: Student Computing does not endorse any of the anti-spyware clients listed below; they are provided as a convenience to matriculated registered HMS predoctoral students.

1. LavaSoft Ad-Aware
2. Spybot - Search & Destroy

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Fight Against Spam!

Tired of getting spam in your email account(s)? Well, albeit this may not put you at ease, you are just one of the many individuals -- worldwide -- who has been receiving at an alarmingly increasing rate, Unsolicited Commercial Emails (UCE) or what anti-UCE folks coined as Spam.
Okay so what do you do to get rid of spam? Read on about all the tips that the staff have researched on-line about spam.

NOTE: The HMS Student Council is officially responsible in monitoring mailing lists for spam. You can email the HMS Student Council at the following email address: Mailing_Lists@hms.harvard.edu
If you want to post an advertisement or sell some books, list it in the Trading Post via MyCourses.
If you have any questions, please contact the Student Computing Support Desk at (617) 432 - 0066, ext. 1 or click to fill out an online form.

Tips to Fight the mers!

Wise Choice #1: Be Protective of Your Email Address

Any time you give your email address out to someone else -- no matter how trustworthy they may be, chances increase that you may be swept up by a a variant of the W32 address-collecting worm. Or better yet, some little robot program has been launched by businesses who unleash their robots to "harvest emails" from any website that exists on the World Wide Web (WWW).

1. Make sure you have anti-virus software and up-to-date virus definitions and product updates on your machine!

Although this doesn't really involve Spam as it is defined above, it does make one's life more complicated when you are accused of sending random emails to those you don't even know... To make life easier go to free online virus and scan tools on Student Computing's site and download the Removal Tools to rid your computer of these tech-pests. Additionally, you just may want to ask the person to whom you are handing out your email if they have anti-virus software on their machines. You'll want to avoid participating in the microbe melee.

2. Hide your email address.

Make sure that any mailing list to which you are subscribing is a suppressed list.
Your organization may want to consider investing in programs that obfuscate Spambots' myriad attempts to harvest your organization's email.

3. Never ever reply to Spam emails to request removal. Your request will probably be ignored and, if anything, it will confirm to the Spammer that your email address is valid.

4. If you live off-campus, try emailing your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to alert them of the emails that you are receiving in your ISP email account. Some ISPs who have email services are set up to selectively block or filter emails.

Wise Choice #2: Email Blocking and Filtering

1. Email blocking and filtering functions may be offered through your email account or an email client.
For your online Outlook Web Acccess (OWA) account, BrightMail is an anti-virus and spam reporting application which simply identifies or tags which emails are deemed spam.
• If you have an email client such as Eudora or MS Entourage v.X, you can create filters that can direct selected emails to a folder or tagged as junkmail. Or you can report the SPAM to Brightmail by following these directions.
• If you have MS Outlook 2003 or above, you can download the Brightmail Outlook plugin to report and deliver any SPAM directly to Symantec.



a. ISP: Ask your ISP if they have any policies on spam.
b. Is email blocking and filtering censorship? Good question! Check this out!

Wise Choice #3: Check Out These Resources Now!

1. Fight Spam On The Internet!
2. Coalition Against Unsolicited Commerical Email (CAUCE)
3. The Anti-Spam Home Page

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