The vast majority of virus, worm and spyware infections could have been prevented, if the user had kept their operating system and software up-to-date. Both Macs and PCs regularly release security updates to their operating system. Most software vendors--especially those providing e-mail and web browsing clients--do as well. You should do everything you can to keep your software up-to-date. Doing so will help you prevent infections and the headaches that follow them.

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• Instructions for Windows Vista
• Instructions for Windows XP
• Instructions for Mac OS X

1. From the Control Panel, double-click the Windows Update icon.
   
   
   
2. Select the updates to install. This may take some time. When you are finished, the screen should indicate that Windows is up to date.
   
   
   
3. Close the window to finish.
   
   

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Warning! Perform the tasks listed below prior to installation of SP2. Performing these operations will decrease the risk of data loss, incomplete installation or program conflicts after installation.

• Back up your data and system settings to an external storage media (ie floppies or CDs).
• If you have an antivirus program installed, disable it. You can reenable it after installation completes, and you have restarted your system.
• Close all open programs.
• If you have a laptop, plug it into your AC adaptor.

Install SP2 From a CD

OIT now offers SP2 CDs to U of MN students, staff, and faculty at no cost. Discs are available at the 1-HELP office locations at 190 Shepherd Laboratories on the East Bank, 93 Blegen Hall on the West Bank, and 50 Coffey Hall in St. Paul. Discs are also available at University Computer Services and at the Residence Hall front desks.

SP2 can also be downloaded from http://safecomputing.umn.edu/downloads.html, and from the Microsoft Windows Update site. If you download SP2 from the safecomputing site, you will need to burn it to a CD before you can install it. If you download it while running Windows Update (see below), you'll not need to burn a CD.

1. Insert the CD into your computer.

2. The setup program will launch automatically.

3. At the Window XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard, accept all of the recommended options, and click I Agree at the License Agreement prompt.

4. SP2 will now install. This might take a while.

5. After installation is complete, click Finish and allow your system to restart.

Install SP2 From the Internet

You need to have a connection to the internet to perform this method of installation. If you are a user who has been identified as having a virus, you are required to unplug your computer from the network and install from a CD, as above.

SP2 and other Windows critical updates are available from the Microsoft Windows Update site. You can reach Windows Update either from the Start menu, or using the Internet Explorer web browser. No other browsers will work for this!

1. Open Internet Explorer. From the menu bar, click Tools and click Windows Update.

2. Click the following link: Express Install (Recommended): High Priority Updates for Your Computer. Windows will look for available updates.

3. Windows Update will scan your computer and list the updates you need. Select Service Pack 2 in the list and then click Go to install updates.

4. On the Install Updates page, click Install.

5. After the Install has completed, your system will restart.

Configure Windows to use Automatic Updates

Microsoft Windows XP has a built-in Automatic Updates tool that can be set to regularly search for updates, saving you the hassle and worry. You should set your machine to automatically install these updates.

1. Click Start and click Control Panel.

2. In the Control Panel, click Performance and Maintenance.

3. In the Performance and Maintenance Window, click System.

4. Click the Automatic Updates tab and select Keep my computer up to date.

5. Under the Settings menu, select Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify.

6. Select Every Day and choose a time when you're sure the machine will be running. Missed updates will not be installed when the machine is turned back on. This feature only applies to future updates.

   

Install Other Windows Critical Updates

Once you've installed SP2, You should install other critical updates for Windows. These updates are available from the Windows Update site. This site is accessible from the start menu or from within the Internet Explorer web browser.

You need to have a network connection in order to perform the following steps. If you are a ResNet user who's been identified as having been infected, and you were instructed to disconnect your machine from the network, you may plug your machine back into the network in order to perform these steps. However, many types of malicious software can disrupt Windows Update, so you should scan for viruses, spyware, and adware, and enable your Windows firewall before you perform these steps. If you're not certain your machine is clean, you should remove yourself from the network as soon as you finish these steps:

1. Open Internet Explorer. From the menu bar, click Tools and click Windows Update. This will open the Windows Update home page.

2. Click the following link: Express Install (Recommended): High Priority Updates for Your Computer.

3. Windows Update scans your computer and lists updates you need. By default, all of the recommended updates will be selected. Click Go to install updates.

4. On the Install Updates page, click Install.

5. Many updates require you to reboot your computer. Each time you restart, repeat steps 1-3, until all available critical updates have been installed. When they are no updates left, you will see the following message on the Express Install page:

   

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In order to keep your software and operating system up-to-date on a Macintosh OS 10 system, you should use the Apple Software Update tool.

1. Open System Preferences by going to the Apple Menu and select System Preferences.

   

2. Click Software Update.

   

3. Click Check Now.

   

4. Allow Software Update to check for updates. When it is done, it will display all of the available updates. Check all of the system updates, as well as all applicable software.

   

5. You will be presented with software license agreements and general descriptions of all the software that you elected to download. Click Accept on all of the agreements to continue.

6. Software Update will download and install all of the applicable components.

   

7. When the installation of the updates is complete, it will prompt you to Restart. Click Restart.

   

8. Once your computer has restarted, you should run through these instructions once more to make sure that there are no more updates to download.

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