Students learn Y2K remedies

Early yesterday morning, a fuss developed in the Penn Bookstore -- but it wasn't caused by any shoplifters. Instead, it was the same lingering Y2K problem that never seems to go away. The University Information Security Office hosted a Computer Security Awareness Day at the Computer Connection located inside the Barnes & Noble University Bookstore. University Information Security officers dispensed coffee, muffins and, most importantly, computer security advice to about 75 interested students. The Year 2000 virus, known as Y2K, has provoked fear of technological mishaps and computer chaos around the world. Yesterday, Information Security officers gathered at the computer store to warn students that they are not excluded from the problem and must take proper precautions. University Information Security Officer Dave Millar offered several suggestions to students about preparing their personal computers before the year 2000 arrives in three weeks. Before readying computers for Y2K, Millar stressed the importance of making backups of all important data. According to Penn computer managers, the most common complaint from students is accidentally losing hours and days of work that have only been saved on the computer's hard drive, Millar said. By saving important documents on disks, students can avoid more complicated problems. Another precaution relates to viruses transmitted through the Internet. Specifically, Millar focused on a type of virus that is sent through e-mail as an attachment. According to Millar, an e-mail -- even one from a friend -- may seem innocent, but could actually be a virus that sent itself by opening up the friend's address book. Students should not even click on an e-mail with an attachment without confirming with a friend that they sent it, Millar advised. Other viruses, referred to as "back doors," take control of a computer and open it up to be accessed by anyone on the web. The main way people get these viruses, Millar said, is through Instant Messenger-like programs and chat rooms. Millar recommended that students turn off and unplug their computers before leaving for winter break. Y2K project coordinator Michael Kearney said he expects some minor problems, most of which can be reduced if students are careful. When it comes to information systems, "Perfection is a goal we often aspire to, but rarely achieve, " Kearney said. He also noted that his "project will be successful if no one asks us what all the fuss was about." Mary Griffin, Senior IT Support Specialist at Penn, strongly recommended that students take the opportunity now before Winter Break to get in the habit of upgrading the virus scanners on their computers monthly. Griffin's anti-virus program is free to all students on the Penn Virus Information web page at http://www.upenn.edu/computing/help/doc/virus.

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