The Information Technology Fee, Viruses, and the Network at Eastern Connecticut State University

McAfee Security identifies each month 500 new computer viruses. Are you protected? Students at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT are entitled to a free copy of the McAfee Virus Scan for PCs or the McAfee Virex for Macs at Webb Hall 410 General Purpose Computer Lab (WH 410) at no cost. They can use the software on any computer they own. Free updates are available via the Internet for one year. The software sells for $29.95 on the McAfee website. 

According to Steve Frazier, Information Center Manager from Eastern’s Information Technology Services (ITS), many students have computers that are vulnerable to virus attacks. Resident students often bring their computers to Eastern without anti-virus software or fail to obtain updates to protect them from the newest viruses. 

Frazier says that ECSU may be one of the first universities to make a deal with McAfee to offer free anti-virus software to students. Purchasing individual licenses to cover the entire student body would have been nearly $150,000 but because of negotiations by Kevin Gill, World Wide Web project leader the cost was only $3,000.

The Information Technology Fund

The $3,000 cost is being paid for using the Information Technology Fund (ITF). Students are required to pay $100 each semester towards this fund.