Updating Virex 6.1 Driver Definitions
This software is not for use on home or personal computers.
For University Macintosh clients, Network Associates Technology Inc., Virex 6.1 software is available for download from the Comp Serv File Server.
REMINDER: Virex 6.1 runs on Macintosh Operating Systems 7.5.5 to 9.2.2
If you have a newer machine you may be able to have Virex 6.1 update itself on a regular basis.
If you already have Virex 6.1 installed please skip down to “Updating the drivers”.
If you need to install the software, read on.
Locating the Server
Go the Apple Menu in the upper left of your desktop menu bar.
Click and hold on the Apple icon and move the cursor down until the Chooser is selected.
In the Chooser window, click once on the AppleShare icon in the upper left of the window.
In the AppleTalk Zone window below this, scroll down to the “UMass Boston Net” zone and highlight it.
In the rightmost part of the window, select “Apps” then click once on the [OK] button.
Locating the Software
In the dialog box that appears, put your email username in the “Name:” field (first.last) and
your email password in the “Password:” field, then click once on the [OK] button.
In the new window, scroll down and select “MacDist” and click once on the [OK] button.
The server will now mount onto your Macintosh desktop. It looks like a CPU
with wires coming out of the bottom and a Windows flag on top.
You have successfully logged on to the server.
Open the “MacDist” server by clicking twice on the icon.
Open the folder called “Virus Protection”.
If you are using a Mac OS between 7.5.5 and 9.2.2, open the Virex 6.1 folder.
You should see the Installer and the latest Virus Definitions (Example: 2003-06-01).
You have located the update.
If you do not already have the Virex 6.1 application, install it now by double clicking on the installer
and following the instructions.
Now test to see if your computer can automatically update its Virus definitions. Start up Virex 6.1
In the upper right-hand corner is a button marked “eUpdate”. Press it.
Virex should then go connect to its home server, compare the installed definitions to the
current ones, and update your software if necessary.
If this takes more than 5 minutes, your machine may not be able to handle it and you should
skip to “Updating the Driver to learn how to do this manually.
If your update was successful, you should schedule automatic updates.
Scheduling Automatic Updates
With Virex 6.1 running, go to the “Schedule” menu and select “Edit Schedule”
Your screen will now show the Schedule Edit. On the left you should see three pulldown menus.
The top one probably says “Diagnose”. Change it to “eUpdate”.
The bottom one probably says “After Startup”. Change it to “At Specific Time”.
The “eUpdate” menu has now sprouted another pulldown menu.
Change it to “Weekly” and in the resulting boxes select the day/time you’d like Virex to update itself.
(The computer has to be on and connected to the network for this to work.)
When you’re satisfied with the schedule, press the “Add” button.
You can schedule more things if you’d like. When you’re done, press the “save” button.
Updating the Driver
Double click on the Virus Definitions (Example: 2003-06-01) icon.
A dialog box appears with the warning:
Update Virus Definitions from file
“Virus Definitions (Example: 2003-06-01)”?
Click once on the [Update] button, your Virex software automatically launched and you should
just wait while the update runs. This may take a couple minutes.
When completed, a dialog box appears with the warning:
The update “Virus Definitions (Example: 2003-06-01)” has been applied.
Click once on the [OK] button.
The Virex 6.1 application window is still open. Notice the driver version in the lower left corner
of the window. It should be the same as the update you just ran. Look here whenever you’re not
sure of the last driver you installed.
Setting Your Preferences
If you have just installed the software, you should set your preferences.
Press the “Preferences” button in Virex 6.1.
You’ll get a new window with many choices.
In the “Diagnose” section, put check marks in all the boxes except
“Diagnose Floppy Disks on insertion”. (We’re going to cover that In a moment, don’t stop reading.)
In the “Repair” section, uncheck everything. (You don’t want the computer doing things
with your “say-so”).
In the “Startup” section, check all except “Ejectables (Locked and Read-only)”,
“Server Volumes”, and “Diagnose Selected Volumes”.
In the “Report”, “eUpdate”, and “Security” sections, don’t change anything.
Save your changes and Close the preferences window.
Now go to the Apple Menu, select “Control Panels”, and select the “Virex” Control Panel.
Click on the “Preferences” button, again you’ll have many choices.
In the “General section, check everything except “Show Extended Alerts”,
“Use Snapshot”, and “Skip Scanning until”. Set the Control Panel to load “Alphabetically”.
In the “File Access”, section, check everything.
In the “Automatic” section, select the “Always” button (i.e. always scan when mounted)
and check everything except “Server Volumes”.
Don’t change anything in the “Keyboard”, “Security”, or “Alerts” sections.
Please DO NOT put a security password in the security section.
You’ll forget it and it will be a problem. Really. Just leave everything in there blank.
Other settings you have made are enough to protect you.
Save your changes and Close the preferences window.
Make sure the “On/Off” switch in the upper right corner is set to “ON”.
Close the Virex Control Panel.
You may now run the application by clicking once on diagnose or repair or you can scan it
via the Control Panel by pressing the “Scan” button. Your hard drive will be inspected for
virus infections. This may take a while depending on the size of your hard drive and how
much you have on it.
At the end you will get a brief report of files scanned, errors, and any virus it located.
Respond as needed then quit your software.
Prevention Practices to Adopt
1. If you were unable to set up the Auto-update feature, you should check for driver
updates monthly or whenever you hear of a new virus.
2. Sometimes friends pass on email to you with a warning that there is a new virus.
How do you know if it’s a real virus or a hoax? There are several good web sites you
can visit which list hoaxes. One of these is Symantec’s antivirus center. Their web address is:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/lets.watch.tv.hoax.html
Any faculty or staff, who need assistance locating this server or installing or updating the driver, may make an appointment via the Help Desk 617-287-5220
for assistance and proper configuration information.
This software is not for use on home or personal computers.
We'd love to hear from you. Please send comments, suggestions, complaints or praise to:helpdesk@umb.edu
Last modified: June 09, 2003