U-M changing antivirus software to Microsoft
The license for McAfee VirusScan, the U-M antivirus application for Windows computers, expires next year and will not be renewed. Information and Technology Services (ITS) recommends replacing VirusScan with one of two Microsoft antivirus (A/V) products:
• Microsoft Security Essentials, for use on personally-owned machines
• Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection, for use on university-owned machines
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Users can change to Microsoft A/V immediately. To ensure continued virus protection for a Windows computer now running VirusScan licensed by U-M, users must replace VirusScan by June 2012.
Changing to Microsoft A/V results in substantial savings for the university. Microsoft Security Essentials is free, and U-M already licenses Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection. Additionally, Microsoft A/V products are competitively rated by several independent reviewers in the antivirus research community. Microsoft Forefront has been certified by West Coast Labs and ICSA Labs; and Virus Bulletin bestowed Microsoft Forefront with its VB100 award in 13 out of 13 tests conducted between June 2007 and April 2011.
Employees who manage a personally owned Windows computer that runs McAfee VirusScan licensed by U-M should go to safecomputing.umich.edu/antivirus for information about changing to Microsoft Security Essentials.
Those who manage a university-owned Windows computer that runs VirusScan licensed by U-M should install Forefront Endpoint Protection on the computers they support. Links for downloading Forefront as well as licensing and ordering information are available at safecomputing.umich.edu/antivirus.
