George Mason University administrators, anxious to protect the school’s computer network from a raft of viruses and worms plaguing the Internet, today unplugged thousands of students from the network. At 1:35 p.m. today, network administrators at the Northern Virginia school cut Internet access for all 3,600 students living on campus. The move should not have come as a surprise to GMU students. Last week, as freshmen reported for orientation, they were required to meet face-to-face with a network security expert to have their laptop or computer checked out. Upper classmen were greeted by school officials who handed out the latest anti-virus software. To get the school’s message across, all students were asked to sign a document confirming that their computers were updated with all the needed security upgrades. Not enough students confirmed that their machines were updated, prompting the GMU action today. Administrators said they would try later today to reconnect dorms, weeding out students with infected PCs. Students living off campus can continue to dial in to the campus computer network. Full Story
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