What’s happening?
Information Resources and Technologies' Tech Desk has received a large number of calls reporting malware infections this morning. Malware (short for malicious software) is software designed to infiltrate and infect computers.
What is IRT doing about it?
Clients who called the Tech Desk this morning reported that they were visiting the Star Tribune Web site at the time of infection. We were able to test and reproduce the infection from the Star Tribune Web site, and as a result we have blocked access to its site from the UST network. IRT notified the Star Tribune and it immediately responded and is working to remove the malicious code. Once that code is removed, IRT will allow traffic from UST to the Star Tribune Web site.
For this particular infection, an antivirus software advertisement called Antivirus Soft pops up and cannot be closed. If you think your UST computer is infected, turn it off and contact the Tech Desk.
IRT is testing a virus removal process and will post recommendations for personally owned computers that may be infected on IRT's alerts page.