All computers used for University Business, regardless of ownership, must use anti-virus or anti-malware software to prevent infection from malware.
The University provides anti-virus and/or anti-malware products for most University owned computers. Contact your department tier one or the IT Service Desk for information about the current university provided anti-virus products that are appropriate for a university owned computer.
For personally-owned computers, owners should utilize one of the many free or paid anti-virus and anti-malware tools available for your operating system.
Links to some of the available solutions are provided below. Please review vendor documentation and consult with your device manufacturer for compatibility. All installed software should be updated frequently to address security issues. Virus/malware scans should be scheduled on a regular basis to catch anything that may have evaded initial scans.
MacOS
See recommendations at https://www.macworld.com/article/231118/best-antivirus-for-mac.html
Some third-party software is also available:
Windows OS
See recommendations at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/stay-protected-with-windows-security-2ae0363d-0ada-c064-8b56-6a39afb6a963
Windows 10 offers an always on defense with Microsoft Defender. No need to download - Microsoft Defender comes standard on Windows 10 as part of Windows Security, protecting your data and devices in real time with a full suite of advanced safeguards.
Some third-party software is also available:
In addition to these applications, a good anti-malware solution like SuperAntiSpyware is offered for the PC and MalwareBytes is offered for the Mac.
Note: You can only use one (1) anti-virus application at a time (remove the current application before installing a new one). However, you can have an anti-virus plus an anti-malware application installed together. These two will work in concert to offer you better protection for your system.
Whichever application you choose, understand that none of them can completely safeguard your data. It’s up to you to keep your system protected by being wary of any suspicious emails or downloads. Also, routinely backup your data!