Faculty, staff, and student computers can be infected by computer viruses spread via e-mail, downloads, exchanging files, and over the Internet. Goucher College has taken steps to protect the campus community against computer viruses. Goucher College computers in campus classrooms, labs, and offices that log on to the Goucher College network are automatically updated with anti-virus software on a daily basis. Antivirus software is being used to scan all inbound and outbound e-mail messages for computer viruses, malicious attachments, and to stop e-mail-borne virus outbreaks via the Goucher College E-mail Server.

Residential students and off-campus computers should insure that anti-virus software is installed and is updated regularly to prevent the infection and propagation of computer viruses. Goucher College Information Technology recommends the use of Microsoft Security Essentials as antivirus software for personal and home Windows computers. Security Essentials runs on Windows XP, Vista, and 7 and is available as a free download from Microsoft's website.

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and is automatically updated to protect your PC with the latest technology.Microsoft Security Essentials is required for all students living on-campus who are using Windows computers.The link to download the software is: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials. It is recommended that you remove any existing antivirus software prior to installing a new one, including Security Essentials.