Malware Infects Computers on Campus

Staff Writer

   In recent weeks, the University of Arkansas-Monticello campus suffered from the effects of a virus outbreak, more specifically a malware infection.

   The infection, still being treated, caused several computers to lose connection to the Internet during its course.

   Information Technology Manager Bobby Hoyle described the malware infection as a very sophisticated infection.

   “It’s one of the most sophisticated the university has experienced,” Hoyle said. “I am confident we will get a handle on it, but I cannot say exactly when.”

   Hoyle explained that IT continues to try containing the infection, using all the tools and resources available, and has contained it to a point where the number of problems decreased.

   He defined malware as any software program written for the purpose of malicious disrupting of business and computer systems. The malware works in the form of a Bot or Trojan, which hides in the operating systems of a computer.

   On a university level, the outbreak prevents UAM from functioning normally, blocking access to the Internet and networks. Hoyle categorized the outbreak as a localized problem, which does not affect the entire campus, just a lab, floor or a building at a time.

   IT follows a straightforward procedure of locating the infected computer, removing it from the network, cleaning it of the infection and then re-adding it to the network. Once re-added, no additional problems surfaced.

   “The down time caused has been cut to a minimum,” he said.

    The Writing Center’s computers became infected and were taken off the network temporarily according to Hoyle.

   Emily Barnett, a tutor in the center, said, “The biggest inconvenience was for students who were unable to print papers and could not turn them in on time.”

   The origin of the malware infection remains unknown.

   “I wish I could say how we got it, but I can’t,” Hoyle said.

   Possible causes for the infection include: files from a USB drive placed in a computer, access to a Web site or through a virus in an e-mail.

   Hoyle said he hopes to write articles in the future explaining the history and evolution of malware to share with the campus along with a possible education program to help understand the nature of this situation.

   IT plans to continue watching the network to monitor malicious content in hopes of locating the computer infected with the source of the infection, the Bot.

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