• Viruses: programs which attach themselves to other (often legitimate) programs or files, but which cannot affect your computer or spread to others unless you open or run the infected program or file.
• Worms: similar to viruses except that they can further infect your computer or travel to others without any action on your part.
• Trojans: programs which disguise themselves as legitimate, useful software but actually do damage once installed.
• Adware: legitimate programs that incorporate advertising in order to allow the developer to distribute it for "free".
• Spyware: gathers user information through the user's browsing habits, internet connection and sometimes keystrokes without their knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Adware which incorporates this approach to its advertising content is typically re-categorized as Spyware.

Common symptoms of a malware infection include slow computer performance; difficulty registering or accessing the network; the inability to run software updates or anti-virus software such as McAfee; and unexplained pop-up warnings, errors, or ads.

Student-owned computers suspected of having any kind of malware infection can be dropped off free of charge at the ITS helpdesk Helpdesk from 8 am–5 pm Monday–Friday.