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Cybersecurity at UCL - time to review and update your protection

16 September 2024

Cyber security is a priority for UCL and it is important that our computers, staff, and students are protected from malware and other security threats. Due to changes in UCL approved anti-virus software its time to review and update the protection you are using for your devices.

computer user using a laptop showing IT security graphics

UCL currently makes the anti-virus software F-Secure available to staff and students via our Software Database. UCL Information Security Group (ISG) also encourages all staff to use Microsoft Defender rather than anti-virus tools such as F-Secure as this tool provides a significantly improved level of protection from modern threats. 
 
Due to a rebrand there has been a major version change with F-Secure, now known as WithSecure, and all users of this tool will need to complete a manual update for this software to continue receiving updates. Without this, the tool will no longer be able to detect the latest threats and your computer will be at greater risk. Versions of WithSecure older than version 16 will stop receiving updates from 30 September 2024. 
 
If you are a UCL staff member and are currently using F-Secure on a Bring Your Own Device or self-managed computer, ISG would like to ask you to switch to Microsoft Defender. Guidance on deploying Defender is available here and ISG can be contacted to request support via MyServicesIf you are a Windows user, please note that Microsoft Defender is not the same thing as Windows Security, a basic anti-virus tool included with the Windows operating system.

Please note that if you use an Apple Mac computer this is likely to affect you, please ensure that you check whether your device is running F-Secure and update to WithSecure if necessary.
 
If you are a student or are not able to deploy Microsoft Defender before the end of September, please complete the following tasks to ensure continued protection.