Important message about connecting Microsoft Windows PCs to the Campus Network & ResNet

September 12, 2003

Over the next two weeks, thousands of students are bringing their computers to the UCSC campus. Faculty and staff may be returning to the campus as well. Some of these computers could be infected with a virus like the recent 'MS Blaster' or 'Welchia' worms. What follows is our UCSC Security response to prevent or manage computer worms being transmitted over the UCSC campus network or residential networks (ResNet).

All students, faculty and staff must protect and clean operating systems before arriving on campus. Our policy is to disconnect infected or vulnerable computers that connect to the campus network or ResNet.

Prevention

UCSC is blocking various network ports that are used by the recent worms to propagate infection. These ports are blocked between the campus network and the Internet, ResNet and the Internet and ResNet and the campus network.

However, the primary form of prevention is that each student, faculty and staff patch and clean their system before connecting to the network.

Machines at risk of infection for these viruses are those using Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows NT4. Older versions of Windows and all Apple computers are not at risk, however we recommend visiting the vendor web sites to make sure your system is up to date.

More information and cleaning tools are available elsewhere on this site as well as from Microsoft's Security & Privacy site.

Infected or Vulnerable Computers

The UCSC Information Systems Security team (UCSC Security) will be actively scanning and monitoring both the campus network and ResNet for infected or vulnerable systems. Infected or vulnerable systems will be disconnected from the network.

Getting Help

Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff are encouraged to check in with their computing coordinators if they need help with patching and cleaning their computers before connection. They may also contact the ITS HelpDesk at 459-HELP or help@ucsc.edu for general information. The ITS Helpdesk will also be providing patching and cleaning services from Monday, September 22 until Friday, September 26 from 10AM until 2PM at their location, 50 Communications.

On-Campus Students (ResNet)

ResNet staff will be available during move-in to assist you and respond to any questions. The ResNet staff will be available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. during move-in, and the office will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will be additional hours at each College during orientation week.

Instructions on protecting your computer will also be at the check-in locations. Carefully read and follow the instructions available at check-in prior to connecting to the network.

You can also download the ResNet Patch CD (self-extracting ZIP archive) here.

If you have questions you can contact the ResNet program via e-mail at resnet@ucsc.edu or by calling 831-459-4638.

Off-Campus Students

Off-campus students may contact the ITS HelpDesk at 459-HELP or help@ucsc.edu for general information. The ITS HelpDesk will also be providing patching and and cleaning services from Monday, September 22 until Friday, September 26 from 10AM until 2PM at their location, 50 Communications.