For information about University of Otago-owned computers, refer to the related article Computer security and antivirus software
It is important to have a reliable, licensed, and working antivirus software application on your computer, whether it is running a Windows, macOS, or Linux operating system. An antivirus will provide valuable protection for your computer by detecting and removing malware. It can also block malicious webpages to help prevent malware from being downloaded.
It is a requirement of the University of Otago that all computers connecting to the University network have working, updated antivirus software.
If you are unsure whether or not your computer has an antivirus installed, review the information below or contact AskOtago for assistance.
Windows
- Open the Control Panel and go to Programs > Programs and Features.
- Look through the list of installed programs on your computer. This will show any installed antivirus software.
- Click the small up-arrow on the bottom right of the toolbar to display the system tray. Often an installed antivirus will be shown here.
macOS
- Go to your Applications folder by opening a Finder window and clicking Applications in the left sidebar.
- Use the Search function in the Finder window to look for the names of common antivirus software applications.
Common antivirus software
Some of the most common antivirus software applications are:
- Windows Defender Antivirus (free with Windows 10 and 11)
- Sophos (30-day free trial; Windows and macOS)
- Avast (free and paid subscription; Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS)
- AVG (free and paid subscription; Windows and macOS)
- McAfee (paid subscription; Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS)
- PCProtect (free; Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS)
Some antivirus software requires a paid subscription. If your subscription is out of date, you will need to either renew your subscription or install a free antivirus software application. A computer that has antivirus software with an expired subscription does not meet University of Otago policy for connecting to the University networks.
Refer to the Wikipedia Comparison of Antivirus Software page to consider alternatives and compare different vendors and products.
Two or more antivirus software applications?
If you find you have more than one antivirus software application installed, choose your preferred one and uninstall the other. If you have more than one antivirus software application installed and running at the same time, they will interfere with each other and neither will work effectively, potentially leaving you with no antivirus protection at all.
If you need any assistance installing or removing an antivirus software application, or if you are worried about malware on your computer, contact AskOtago