Protect your PC

Before connecting your own computer to the Kent network you must protect it from viruses and other threats. Campus student PCs and Staff Managed Desktops are automatically protected.

F-Secure anti-virus license expires 1 April 2012: check your computer is protected

Steps to protect your PC

  1. Install anti-virus software with the latest virus definitions and run a full scan
  2. Install adware and spyware protection
  3. Essential security settings on your PC:
    1. set passwords on all user accounts on your computer, including the administrator account
    2. disable the Guest account if you have one (this is normally disabled by default)
    3. turn off any file sharing
  4. Update your computer with the latest service packs and security updates (there is no need to do this if you have automatic updates enabled or have recently visited the windows update website)

Run a security scan to check your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software, the latest Windows service pack and critical security updates.

Installing software

Windows Users

Never try to install more than one anti-virus program as this causes serious technical problems.

The University recommends using the free Microsoft Security Essentials to protect your PC from viruses, spyware and malware. You need to install this if:

  • you have a windows PC and do not already have up-to-date anti-virus software on it
  • the software you have is out-of-date: if you are no longer receiving regular anti-virus updates, you need to remove your old software so that you can install Microsoft Security Essentials.
How to install Microsoft Security Essentials:

System requirements: Windows 7, Vista or XP

  1. Before downloading the new program you need to check that you do not already have anti-virus software on your PC. If you install more than one anti-virus program, your computer will not work. If you need Microsoft Security Essentials, you will need to uninstall the software you have:


    2. To remove a program in Windows 7 or Vista:
    - click Start, Control Panel, Programs and Features
    - select the software you wish to remove and click Uninstall at the top of the list. There may be several components to remove and they must all be removed for a full uninstall.

    To remove a program in Windows XP:
    - click Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs
    - from the list of software (under Change or Remove Programs) select the software you wish to remove and click Change/Remove. There may be several components to remove and they must all be removed for a full uninstall.

  2. Go to the Microsoft Security Essentials website: Click the Download Now button and select your language and operating system. Click Run or Open when prompted (if you are using Firefox, choose to save the file to the desktop, then double-click the file on the desktop to run it).

Mac users

You are required to install anti-virus software before connecting your computer to the Kent network. We recommend Sophos as a good anti-virus program for Macs: Download Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition

Check the Apple website for other recommendations.


Removing viruses from your PC

Scanning and removing viruses, adware and spyware: if you suspect your PC is infected, use your up-to-date anti-virus software to scan for viruses, adware and spyware. Further help with removing viruses should be in the help section of your anti-virus program.

Additional virus removal tools