It says my Sophos Anti-virus is out of date!
Internet Explorer is blocking websites or pop-up windows

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) is a collection of new technologies designed to help keep your PC more secure from viruses and hackers. It is part of Windows Critical Updates and if you are set to have automatic updates it has been coming down from Microsoft since late August in bits and pieces. Student computers which went through the firstdays process had SP2 installed manually.

There are several new interfaces which are designed to help you understand the settings on your computer but are confusing at first. One new interface is the Windows Security Center. The Security Center lets you check the status of some essential security settings (updates, firewall and anti-virus).

To open Security Center click Start, Settings and then click Control Panel. Open the Security Center icon.

The Security Center checks for:

• A software firewall (to block network viruses and hackers)
• Automatic Updates set to download and install updates automatically (this is very important and needs to be on).
• An up-to-date antivirus program (this is often not accurate)

If the Security Center detects that your computer might benefit from enhanced security in one of the three essential areas listed above, it displays an alert in the notification area (next to the clock). You will see an alert like the one below every time you log on, until the problem is resolved.

What are these three settings doing?

The firewall is a piece of software that attempts to prevent outside computers from being able to talk to yours unless you first initiated the contact. This helps secure against network viruses or hackers.

Firewall notifications:

Some applications will need to get past your Windows Firewall to operate successfully. Windows will alert you when they first try to connect. If you are absolutely sure that you trust the program you can unblock it. If unsure, call call x4090-Fac/Staff or x3088-Students.

Automatic update notifications:

You will definitely want to have Automatic Updates turned on and set to download and install automatically. If you get the yellow shield symbol below in your taskbar, or the Microsoft earth globe you probably have Critical updates that need to be installed. When you see them, click the icon to see what they indicate.

Anti-virus notifications:

At Williams we use Sophos Anti-virus by default on PCs. The Security Center detects Sophos fine but may give an alarming notification that Sophos is out of date. The virus definitions for your Sophos Anti-virus get updated 4 times a day. If you find yourself getting the out of date notification for more than 2 weeks please call x4090-Fac/Staff or x3088-Students as that may be an indication that your Sophos really is out of date.

Other changes:

The Pop-up Blocker, new to Internet Explorer in Windows XP SP2, can prevent most unwanted pop-up windows from appearing. The Pop-up Blocker is supposed to be smart enough to not block pop-up windows that you open deliberately by clicking a link—for example, if you were on a travel reservation site and you clicked a link to open a pop-up window containing your confirmation details, this pop-up window would not be blocked because you opened it intentionally.

When a pop-up ad is blocked, you'll see a notification in the Information Bar, which is also new to Internet Explorer. When you click the Information Bar, you'll have access to the pop-up blocker settings that let you view the pop-up or configure other options.

Information Bar showing a blocked pop-up

Information Bar showing a blocked pop-up
To allow pop-ups from a specific site:

Using the PeopleSoft HR/SA web site as a real example: after installing XP Service Pack 2, follow these steps:

1. In the security center, click on Manage Security Settings for...Internet Options (click on "Internet Options")
2. In the Internet Properties window, click on the "Privacy" tab.
3. In the PopUp Blocker section at the bottom of the Privacy window, click on the "Settings..." button.
4. Type the following in the box below the heading "Address of Web Site to allow:"
ps-ls-db.williams.edu
5. Then click the "Add" button to add the PeopleSoft web site.
6. Click the "Close" button to close the PopUp Settings window.
7. Click the "Ok" button to close the Internet Properties window.
8. Click the Red "X" to close the Security Center window.

Pop-ups from PeopleSoft HR/SA will no longer be blocked.
Protecting your PC when downloading files:

A file you download from the Web—for example, a game, a picture, or even a program—can be just what you bargained for, or it can be a vehicle for more malevolent intent. For this reason, Internet Explorer has stepped up its scrutiny of any file you begin to download, open, or save from the Web. Internet Explorer checks to see whether the file is the type of file it says it is and provides strong warnings if there are irregularities in how the file describes itself or if there seems to be a potential for harm based on the particular type of file (as shown in the following image). Internet Explorer also offers more concise information to help you understand the implications of opening or saving a file.

Example Security Warning

• 1 and 2: In Windows XP SP2, you will see the size of the file along with what type of file it is. As in previous versions of Internet Explorer, you can see the source of the download—in other words, where the software comes from.
• 3: Internet Explorer also offers guidance about the type of file you are downloading.
• 4: You can click the "How can I decide what software to run?" link to make a more informed decision about what to do.