As 10,000 computers accompanied students into residence halls this quarter, the offices of Student Affairs and Information Technology became the first line of defense against the growing problem of computer viruses.

“Who knows what kind of shape (the computers) are in?” said Robert Kabal, director of IT policy for the Office of Information Technology. “They could be well taken care of or contaminated with a virus.”

Members of both Student Affairs and OIT distributed 2,000 copies of the Windows Service Pack 2 computer upgrade for Microsoft Windows XP to students free of charge.

The service packs were part of an effort to ensure safe and healthy computing on the campus network. Ohio State also purchased new equipment last spring that allows the office of Student Affairs to monitor students’ computers on the ResNet network and block the paths viruses travel on, which are called ports.

“We have the advantage (to block ports) on the network that a lot of other schools don’t,” said Valerie Shafer, associate director of Residence and Dining Halls for the office of Student Affairs.

In addition, OSU will soon be able to force students to authenticate themselves before logging on to the network. If there is a virus on the computer, the network will link directly to a secure website where the student can download a virus protection program.

“We are still six months away from being able to do that,” Shafer said.

Shafer and Kalal agree that since OSU beefed up its online security, there have been no major breakouts.

“There was a small outbreak in the spring that affected about 150 students,” Shafer said. “It was a worm that grew over a weekend, but was quickly taken care of.”

Both offices offer additional help and support for students suffering from computer viruses. Students can pick up the Windows Service Pack 2 in room 512 of the Baker Systems Engineering building or download a free virus protection program off of the OIT website.

“We encourage folks to get that (virus scan) and install it,” Kalal said.

The office of Student Affairs also employs six to ten students to assist the campus community with virus questions.

“There is no difference between a major or minor virus – they all are a threat to the computer,” said Dan Charnigo, a student service assistant for Student Affairs.

Charnigo, a junior in computer science and engineering, says he deals with viruses on student computers a couple of times a week.

“It is a lot worse during the middle and end of the year than now,” Charnigo said.

He attributes that to the fact that students’ computers pick up viruses during the school year.

Shafer is not expecting anything different than past years because new viruses are always popping up. The source of many viruses remains unknown, she said.

“If we knew the source we could prevent it,” Shafer said.

For more information or for help, students can contact OIT at 8-HELP on a campus phone line or the office of Student Affairs at 2-HELP.