Computing and Media Services officials are trying different methods to combat the latest breed of the MSBlaster worm, and the chances of having to shut down ResNET become slimmer with progress.

In order to continue its success in fighting the worm, CMS is also setting up a new Web site. The site will allow students who already have virus protection and do not want to uninstall it to download the worm patch.

Up to this point, CMS has scanned students’ computers in the morning, hoping to get a list of infected computers prepared for its employees by the start of the 2 p.m. shift, said Deborah Nosky, manager of IT communications and professional development for CMS. The problem with this method is that the machine only scans computers that are on and connected to ResNET.

‘This is the first evening we’re trying it in the evening, when we are hoping more students will have their computers on,’ Nosky said.

As of 8 p.m. yesterday, officials have completed scans for both Shaw and Day resident halls. Of 411 ports in Shaw, 10 computers had the worm. Of 545 ports in Day, 17 were infected.

‘Based on the numbers we’re returning, we have eliminated the option of turning off ResNET,’ Nosky said.

In addition to the new scanning time, CMS officials will have the new Web site up by this afternoon. The site serves a purpose different from the existing one; instead of a ‘PC Secure’ link, students can click the ‘Just Patch’ option, which will patch and clean the computer without having to install McAfee.

‘This is something we put in for the students who have Norton AntiVirus or another program that they don’t want to get rid of,’ Nosky said.

If CMS’s machine detects that a computer is infected, the computer will be shut off at 2 a.m., a time by which CMS officials hope students will have completed their work. The students will then have to wait until 2 p.m. the next day to have a CMS employee reboot their computer.

Some students have been frustrated with the consequences associated with contracting the worm.

‘I’m so pissed,’ said Andrew Pontti, a junior public relations major whose Internet was turned off last night. ‘No one ever called or left a message.’

Pontti returned from class shortly after 3:20 p.m. to find that he missed a CMS employee by a matter of minutes. At 3:45 p.m., he went down to the main desk of his resident hall to put his name on a list, and as of 9:30 p.m., no one had shown up.

‘I’m using my friend’s computer a lot,’ he said. ‘I was going to do some research for a class tonight, but I can’t until [the employee] shows up.’

Other students have had more positive experiences with CMS.

‘We’ve been given pretty good updates,’ said Andrew Weisberg, a junior history major. ‘Last night, they were walking up and down the halls, knocking on doors and making sure [each student’s] system is working well.’

CMS officials are hoping that the new system will take care of the current worm.

‘As of now, we are safe,’ Nosky said. ‘Could a new worm be written tomorrow and bring us back to having 7,000 unpatched computers? Sure.’

Published on September 9, 2003 at 12:00 pm