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Subject and Aspects > ICT General > Technical > Virus Information

Virus Information

Important information regarding email viruses
 Many schools and council employees are receiving emails with attached files that are viruses. A lot of the emails being received appear to be coming from legitimate sources such as council email addresses or other schools (sometimes even from their own email address). They usually have a file attached that could be a zip file or some other strange file and the body of the message usually says something like 'here is your document'.

Please be aware that it is not the council that is sending these emails even though they appear to have come from a trusted source : they are caused by a virus that has picked up the email address from the address book of an infected computer, probably in another school, which has inadequate virus protection. Kirklees council computers are fully virus protected and all emails that are sent or received through the council email system are checked for viruses.   Also be aware that these email viruses are very clever, they can change subject line, message and the attached file so there is no definite sign to look for. If you are not expecting to receive a file from someone and the message seems a bit strange or vague then it will probably be a virus.  

We ask that all schools ensure that they have up to date virus protection on all computers. Most virus protection programmes allow you update automatically, if so it is recommended that you set this option up. If not you need to be updating your software every day as soon as you switch on your computer. This will ensure that even if you do get a virus it will be quickly picked up and removed.  

It is very important that this virus is removed from any computers as Kirklees School email accounts are becoming blocked with the amount of virus ridden email that is being sent and legitimate messages are not getting through.

Sophos Antivirus
All Kirklees schools can purchase the Sophos antivirus package through a special offer negotiated through YHGFL. They are providing the anti-virus package at a cost of just £120 per Primary School, and £240 per Secondary School until year 2010 - This is a one-off cost! This not only covers every pc and laptop in the school, it also covers laptops provided for private use by teachers at home. It also covers free, regular, updates – essential as your system is struggling to fight off an ever evolving security challenge. To purchase send a school order form to Angela Oldroyd at ITCAS (fax 860 5725) stating if you need the Primary or Secondary version. You will be sent a user name and password which will allow you to download the software onto the computers to be protected.