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Problem with college network security
Shogun
Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get alongRegistered User regular
Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get alongRegistered User regular
The institution is the university of tn if it matters. I had to register my laptop so I could use wireless and to do that it requires that UT installs an incredibly invasive program that changes both your administrator account and your own account. They force you to change the names and passwords if they do not meet their "strong" criteria. This I can live with despite the fact I think it is atrocious they make me install anything that changes Windows. Next they force me to install their version of McAfee Antivirus.
I built my first pc 5 years ago and I've never needed to use virus software. I'm on the same installation of Windows XP I was when I built that computer. I've never had a virus or had to deal with the nonsense. The same goes for this laptop. I do not need, nor do I want their invasive shit on my computer. However it apparently is not as simple as uninstalling their shit.
If I go into control panel there is no place to uninstall this software and there is no uninstall file in any of the folders. I want this garbage off my computer as frankly this laptop is slow enough as it is.
Herp prease?
I built my first pc 5 years ago and I've never needed to use virus software. I'm on the same installation of Windows XP I was when I built that computer. I've never had a virus or had to deal with the nonsense. The same goes for this laptop. I do not need, nor do I want their invasive shit on my computer. However it apparently is not as simple as uninstalling their shit.
If I go into control panel there is no place to uninstall this software and there is no uninstall file in any of the folders. I want this garbage off my computer as frankly this laptop is slow enough as it is.
Herp prease?
Shogun on
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1. keep the software that allows you to log on to the network but loose the McAfee?
Or
2. you just want all of that crap off your computer?
If its 1. you might have to do some serious hacker shit as they may auto check your computer for the crap they put on it when you try to log onto the network.
If its 2. it might be fastest and easiest to backup everyone you want on your computer and just reformat the hard drive.
When I dealt with this last semester I was able to just uninstall McAfee. No problem. This semester they've made changes to their 'suite' and I cannot find anything anywhere to uninstall this shit. The main thing at this moment is this antivirus crap. I have it disabled from starting up but I can't even turn it off if I want to. It is scanning stuff right now eating up my precious mhz.
Shogun Streams Vidya
look under the Program Files\McAfee\Common Framework\ directory, see if there's a program called FrmInst.exe.
if you run FrmInst.exe with the "/REMOVE=AGENT" or "/forceuninstall" option it will remove the McAfee software.
"C:\Program Files\Mcafee\Common Framework\FrmInst.exe /REMOVE=AGENT"
"C:\Program Files\Mcafee\Common Framework\FrmInst.exe /forceuninstall"
Additionally, you may have to uninstall the AV client manually. After the common framework has been removed, you can try going to "C:\Program Files\McAfee\VirusScan Enterprise\RepairCache" where there should be a copy of the VS MSI. running this will give you the option to reinstall, repair, or remove the software.
Shogun Streams Vidya
Unfortunately, yes, you do.
Sorry to sound like a bit of a jerk, but you're basically asking us (assuming I found the right document) to help you violate your school's Acceptable Use Policy:
# Computer viruses present a threat to the university's computing and networking environment. A virus infection may manifest itself in the loss of data, disruption of computer and server software applications, compromises to the security of the network and connected computers, disruption of network services, and lost faculty, staff, and student productivity. To lessen the threat of computer viruses within the university environment, users must adhere to the following practices (when technically possible):
1. All computer systems are required to have a university-approved anti-virus software package installed and running when available.
2. Real time protection (background scanning) should be activated if the computer is attached to the university's network. Full disk scans are to be performed at a minimum of once a week if real time protection is activated.
3. If real time protection is not activated, full disk scans are to be performed once a day.
4. Software virus definitions must be updated and kept current at all times.
You should be taking your concerns to the IT dept. there, instead of risking getting your access cut off, or worse.
Shogun Streams Vidya
Then either the policy's changed since last semester, or you just got lucky and didn't get caught for some reason. The only way you're gonna know for sure what you're allowed to do is talk with someone in the IT services office there.
http://oit.utk.edu/index.php
I'm sorry, but putting anti-virus software on your computer to reduce the chances of you crippling other systems on their network is "Big Brother" to you?
Someone did make a suggestion about how to remove it. If that didn't work, or you're unwilling to try, your best bet is really to talk to the IT department. You could try asking what they do if you have a laptop with Linux and want to use the wireless.
Honestly, the "I don't get viruses, have never gotten viruses blah blah" argument is complete bullshit. all it takes is one malicious file to bring down an entire network. One file that could cost the uni, and the students, potentially thousands of dollars in damages/wage to fix the problem, and cost hundreds, potentially thousands of lost classroom hours because the network was down.
Think of it. if 2000 computers on the network were infected, then the uni would be responsible for fixing all those computers, whether they are owned by the uni, or individual machines. they would also open themselves up to millions of dollars in lawsuits.
I'm sorry, but if you think you're better than that, you're an idiot.
you could probably set this up with a wireless router too, but I'm not certain how that would work out.
Also, I understand completely why they want me to have antivirus. They simply don't understand why I don't need/want it. I haven't tried the previously mentioned method of uninstalling McAfee because I am timid about it. Its been enough hassle just trying to browse the bloody web I don't want more trouble, but apparently removing it from the startup sequence did nothing at all, as there it is churning away.
edit: And Wunderbar I don't know or understand how my post equated to, "IM BETTER THAN EVERYONE I DONT HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE RULES LALALALA" but I do not think I am better than anyone. I just don't want McAfee Antivirus.
Shogun Streams Vidya
It's too great a risk to the uni to let you not run it. I used to think like you. I used to not run antivrius. I ran no antivirus for about 3-4 years, had no issues. Ran a spyware scanner once every couple of months. Super careful on the internet, super careful with e-mail. locked my computer down hard, ran hardware and software firewalls at home.
Then one day, a friend told me he was sending me an email with a word file. told me over the phone. it was a school assignment we had been working on. he had made some revisions and wanted me to look at it. I got the email, opened the attachment, and boom, not only infected my computer, but my dad's computer, my server, and my laptop on the network. I ended up having to format and re-install the OS on all 4 machines.
A completely trustworthy friend, someone I had known for 10 years, tells me he's sending a word document, sends it to me, I open it and get killed by a virus.
a couple weeks later I found the cause, my friend had a trojan on his machine that went un-detected and was implanting malware on e-mail attachments he was sending out. My friend was no idiot with computers either. He's now a network administrator for a company in the city I live in.
That is why you need to suck it up and live with mcafee on your computer if the uni demands it. The risk is too great, and they can't listen to every person who said "it's okay, I'm realllllly careful and don't get viruses." There is simply too much liability to take any kind of risk.
Are you in a residential network, or a campus-wide network? Wifi vs. Dorm-room internet access?
It sucks, but such is life.
Sorry.
See your problem was trusting microsoft products.
Went home, got a job, got broadband again, applied to a local college I could commute to, never looked back. I hate stupid policies like that. Anything that has to install on your PC is too much. You should never have to install anything on my PC to let me get on the internet.
So... changes them how exactly?
Do you have any anti-virus besides that?
Changes the account names and passwords as far as I can tell. I've been told it also makes registry edits, but I cannot confirm this myself. The names and passwords have to meet UT's 'strong' criteria. The first time this happened the password was changed to a default that I was not aware of and I was locked out of my laptop for almost a week. This was last semester.
Also this has nothing to do with dorms. I do not live on campus. However the College of Business requires you to have your own laptop. You cannot take courses in CBA without one. To gain web access you must register your computer with UT's network. To register with the network you must install their network admin suite. In the suite is McAfee, the network admin tool, and some other stuff.
edit @ Ruckus: I tried what you said, however that program does not give me a command line to add anything onto the executable.
Shogun Streams Vidya
Then guess what, live with it. Policy exists for a reason. If it were me, I'd use a shitty $600 laptop at school and have a good computer as my primary one.
Hey wow, that is exactly what I do. Thank you for your brilliant analysis.
Also this can be locked, as I just got rid of McAfee. And internet access is still working so looks like I'm good to go. Big thank you to Ruckus!
Shogun Streams Vidya
I can't believe you think you can get away with "I've never had a virus before" as a good reason to not adequately protect your machine. When you get infected and connect to the network, any worms you're infected with are going to go out as quickly as possible to other machines.
You've broken the AUP for no good reason but your own arrogance. McAfee is a decent anti-virus program, and usually costs a fair chunk of change. You're getting it for free. You should be grateful.
What do you mean the legality of it? You obviously have a pretty warped view if you think an open network was worth dropping out of college for, but there's absolutely no question it's legal.
It's their network, it's their rules. You want to opt-out, you don't use their network.
And all we're talking about here is an anti-virus suite that will help to make sure his work remains safe. I've seen people in tears because of data loss, whole theses disappearing or whatever. Anything you can do (anti-virus being a really good start on Windows) you should do.
A lot of people I know only use free A/V solutions or none because they can't afford Norton/McCaffee. Getting a free A/V package pushed to you seems like a pretty sweet deal.