Rockhurst University is committed to providing secure access to its network resources. For some time we've been using McAfee Enterprise Anti-Virus to accomplish this. However, as the landscape of virus and malware threats has changed dramatically, it has become necessary for our security measures to change and adapt. 

Computer Services is pleased to announce that beginning this winter, we will begin migrating campus systems from McAfee Enterprise Anti-Virus over to Microsoft Forefront Client Security. In addition, we will begin the process of moving our student and employee home-use options away from McAfee and over to Microsoft Security Essentials, which is a free consumer based version of the Microsoft Forefront engine.

This will have an effect on our users in a few ways.

1. By August 1, 2010, all students running Windows-based systems on our network will need to have already uninstalled McAfee Enterprise Anti-Virus and moved to Microsoft Security Essentials to continue using our campus network. Students can begin the transition at anytime, Cisco Clean Access will allow either McAfee or Microsoft Security Essentials to login. If you bring your system to the Help Desk anytime starting today, we will migrate your computer over for you.
2. By Janurary 1, 2010, employees who use VPN from their personal home computers will need to uninstall McAfee Enterprise Anti-Virus and move to Microsoft Security Essentials to continue using our remote access network.
3. Starting November 1, 2010, campus owned systems that are managed by RUCS will automatically be moved from McAfee Enterprise Anti-Virus to Microsoft Forefront. No user effort should be required for these systems. We will be performing these rollouts in stages around campus. We should have this move completed by December.

   Users will notice the McAfee "M" or the "V" shield in their system tray (area next to the clock) being replaced by Forefront security icons. (Seen at right)

   The first two icons (seen below) are normal and either indicate the system is fully protected or in the process of scanning for threats. The blue, red and yellow icons indicate Forefront has either found a threat or needs administrator help. Users who see one of these icons should call the Help Desk and we can diagnose the problem and get them back to green status.

   

All campus network access systems have now been programmed for use by any of the three following anti-virus clients: McAfee, MSE and Forefront.

In our testing, both Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Security Essentials provide a superior level of performance compared to McAfee Enterprise Anti-Virus. The Forefront and MSE engines tend to use less system resources both during normal usage and in scanning systems. This will lead to systems that are more responsive. Both engines also have higher detection ratings from major anti-virus testing services, and this has been reflected in our own internal testing as well.

You can download the Microsoft Security Essentials package, and obtain more information about the software, from the Microsoft website at www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

Please be sure to uninstall McAfee anti-virus from your system before installing Security Essentials, as having two anti-virus programs on your computer can damage your operating system.

If you need assistance installing Microsoft Security Essentials, or removing McAfee Anti-Virus please contact the Help Desk.

Download Microsoft Security Essentials (5MB 32-bit or 8.8MB for 64-bit, self-extracting .exe installer)

Windows operating system minimum requirements for Microsoft Security Essentials

• Windows XP Service Pack 2 (32-bit) or higher
• Windows Vista (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Your system must pass "Genuine" validation by Microsoft for MSE to install, meaning it must be a legally purchased and licensed version of the Windows operating system.