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List:       web4lib
Subject:    Anti-virus software on public kiosks?
From:       casburns () uhddx01 ! dt ! uh ! edu (Steve Casburn)
Date:       2000-11-28 17:11:55
Message-ID: Pine.OSF.4.10.10011281544230.2588-100000 () uhddx01 ! dt ! uh ! edu
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My library has its public computers configured in this way:

	- Windows 95 (4.00.950 B)
	- WinSelect 3.33
		(No opening from or saving to any drive)
		(Unlimited printing to network printers)
	- Netscape Communicator 4.75
		(Java and JavaScript enabled)
	- Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05
	- No other user applications
		(no e-mail, no Microsoft Office, etc.)


My question is this: Given this configuration, do we need to have
anti-viral software on the computers (we currently have McAfee VirusScan
4.5 on them)? Are there viruses that can damage a computer with this
configuration (say, Java or JavaScript viruses) that a standard virus
protection program would be able to stop?

I would prefer to take off the anti-viral software if I can -- it adds to
CPU overhead, slows down response time, and decreases stability. If the
software is actually doing some good, though, of course I'll leave it on.

Any help or pointers would be appreciated. I will summarize responses to
the list.


Steve


 --
  Steve Casburn  <casburns@uhddx01.dt.uh.edu>
  Automation Librarian, University of Houston - Downtown

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