We live in a connected world and have come to depend on the computer on our desk to function properly as part of our work and daily interactions with one another. Unfortunately, the internet is increasingly full of spam, viruses, and other invasive software that is designed to disrupt your computer without you ever knowing about it. In fact, approximately 90% of the 200,000 email messages received at the College every day are spam and/or contain a virus designed to harm your computer.

As part of our ongoing efforts to create a safe and secure network, anyone using the campus network is required to register their computer before gaining access to the network. Your computer will be scanned for known vulnerabilities. If your system is found to be susceptible to internet viruses and related malicious software you will be asked to install patches to your operating system and/or update your virus definition files before you can use the College network.

The registration process only applies to computers that are physically connected to our campus network - computers that are physically in a campus building or using a wireless connection. It does NOT apply to computers that access our network remotely from off-campus.

A Few Words About Privacy

The registration process does NOT scan, touch or in any way "look at" any individual files or file directories on your computer. Rather, it checks the "perimeter" of the computer and looks across the software ports on the computer to locate known vulnerabilities that would invite a worm or virus to infect the computer.

Computers today are complicated machines that use a seemingly endless number of "ports" to enable software programs (web browsing, email, file sharing, etc.) to interact with the internet. These "ports" are set to either on or off depending on the default setting and the program. The registration system simply closes ports that should be closed that have been identified by the industry as being vulnerable to worms and viruses. It does not actually place the virus protection software on the computer. You still need to do that and we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you install the proper virus protection on your computer if you have not already done so.

Virus Protection

The College has a site license for Symantec AntiVirus (Mac & Windows) so that all of our machines are protected. The link below will take you to instructions on how to uninstall previous virus protection software, and install Symantec AntiVirus on your computer. Instructions are included for both Mac and Windows.

• Symantec AntiVirus Installation for Mac QuickStart
  
• Symantec AntiVirus Installation for Windows QuickStart

What Is Expected of of Our Network Users?

You will not be able to read your email or perform any other network activity until the registration/scanning process is complete.

We ask that you:

• Read and acknowledge understanding of the College's Responsible Computing and Virus Protection Policy.
• Acknowledge that you will perform all necessary antivirus scans, updates, and patches to your operating system to make sure it is up to date.
• Acknowledge that you have or will immediately obtain the College supplied auto-updating anti-virus software (Symantec) and understand that you are obligated to use this software on a regular basis.
• Agree to completing this network registration process on a periodic basis.
• Be aware that if you use the wireless network you will need to register your system on the wireless network as well: Wireless Network Policy.
• Ensure that you have a valid Franklin & Marshall College username and password.

How Does it Work?

Network registration associates your computer with your Franklin & Marshall College username. Until your computer is registered, you will only have access to the network registration web site.

As part of the registration process, your computer will be scanned for known vulnerabilities. The scanning process will determine whether or not your system is at risk. Network access is functional only AFTER a successful scan.

If your computer is found to be at risk for virus/malicious software, your system will be quarantined and you will be presented with a web page that contains directions on how to fix the vulnerabilities found on your computer. Once the fixes have been applied, your system will be rescanned.

Once your system has passed the scanning process you will be presented with the network registration web pages. You will be asked to supply your Franklin & Marshall College username and password.

Once registered you will be allowed to proceed with normal network activities (e.g., email, surfing the web, accessing eDisk).

If you replace your computer or get a new network card in your computer you will be prompted to re-register the system since your network identification has changed.

To register:

• Plug your computer into the network and turn it on.
• Launch the web browser of your choice.
• The registration process begins automatically.
• Follow the supplied directions.