To prevent computer viruses spreading within the Kalamazoo College Network, all computers connected to the Kalamazoo College Network are required to have a current, up-to-date antivirus application installed. This requirement includes all computers whether they be student-owned, faculty- or staff-owned, or college-owned computers.

Student Computers

There are a wide variety of antivirus products available to consumers. Products popular among K College students include free products like AVG Free (Windows, free), Microsoft Security Essentials (Windows, free), Sophos Anti-Virus Mac Home Edition (Mac, free), as well as for-fee products like those from Norton, McAfee, avast!, and Malwarebytes.

If it is determined that a student computer has a virus and it does not have an antivirus program installed, its antivirus subscription has expired or its virus definitions are more than a month out of date, the computer’s network port(s) will be disabled without warning and a $100.00 fee will be assessed to the computer owner’s College account. The network port(s) will remain disabled until the virus is verified removed by a member of Information Services or a Residential Computer Consultant (RCC). If an infected computer is connected to another network port before it is verified as free of viruses, that port will also be disabled until the system has been cleaned.

Computers Maintained by Information Services

All computers maintained by Information Services have up-to-date virus protection software pre-installed. This software is centrally managed and virus definitions are updated automatically. All college computers are also automatically scanned for viruses once a week, typically at noon on Mondays.

If a computer maintained by Information Services becomes infected with a virus, it may be necessary to remove the computer from the network (possibly by disabling the computer’s network port) until Information Services personnel can clean the computer. If you suspect your computer is infected, please unplug it from the network port and call the Information Services Help Desk at x5800.

Other Computers

Other computers such as faculty or staff personal computers or college owned computers not maintained by Information Services must also have up-to-date antivirus software installed. It is the responsibility of the person or department owning the system to purchase and maintain this software.

If it is determined that a computer has a virus and it does not have an antivirus program installed, its antivirus subscription has expired or its virus definitions are more than a month out of date, the computer’s network port(s) will be disabled without warning until Information Services personnel can verify the computer has been cleaned of all viruses and a $100.00 fee will be assessed to the computer owner’s. Any assessed fees cannot be paid with institutional funds.