Frequently Asked Questions: Forefront Endpoint Protection and Microsoft Security Essentials

1. What Windows antivirus products are available to faculty/staff and UNH students?
2. How do Students install Microsoft Security Essentials?
3. How do Faculty and Staff members install Forefront?
4. What is the difference between Forefront and Microsoft Security Essentials?
5. Can Faculty and Staff use Forefront Endpoint Protection on their home computer?
6. Can Faculty and Staff use Microsoft Security Essentials at work?
7. Has UNH IT tested Forefront or Microsoft Security Essentials?
8. How do I update my virus definitions for Forefront?
9. How do I update my virus definitions for Microsoft Security Essentials?
10. How do I scan with Forefront?
11. How do I scan with Microsoft Security Essentials?
12. What do I do if Forefront detects malware?
13. What do I do if Microsoft Security Essentials detects malware?
14. Why is UNH switching from McAfee?
15. When does the UNH McAfee contract expire?
16. When should I stop using McAfee?
17. What will happen to users who do not remove McAfee? Will their VirusScan installations still update?
18. How do I remove McAfee?
19. Can the latest virus definition updates for Forefront be manually downloaded?
20. Can the latest virus definition updates for Microsoft Security Essentials be manually downloaded?

1. What Windows antivirus products are available to faculty/staff and UNH students?

Faculty/Staff: UNH IT has secured Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection (Forefront) licenses for University owned machines used by UNH staff and faculty. This extends to one personally owned system used for work associated with the University.  Other home computers should use Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).
UNH Students: Students are encouraged to use Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), a free antivirus product for personal use computers.

2. How do Students install Microsoft Security Essentials?

Before downloading any antivirus product, you should remove any existing antivirus applications, such as McAfee. McAfee removal instructions for Windows XP are available here.  McAfee removal instructions for Windows 7 and Windows Vista are available here. Next, follow the installation instructions found here.

3. How do Faculty and Staff members install Forefront?

Install Forefront using the instructions found here.

4. What is the difference between Forefront and Microsoft Security Essentials?

Forefront and Microsoft Security Essentials are nearly identical antivirus products from Microsoft. However, there are some small, but important, differences. Forefront is a licensed antivirus product for organizations with over 10 computers. Microsoft Security Essentials is a free antivirus product for individuals and organizations of 10 or fewer computers.
Forefront has the ability to be managed by UNH IT. Currently, IT is not managing Forefront centrally. You will need to update and scan your computer regularly.

5. Can Faculty and Staff use Forefront Endpoint Protection on their home computer?

UNH faculty and staff may use Forefront Endpoint Protection on one home computer if it is used for work associated with the university. For machines not used for work associated with the university, Faculty and Staff are encouraged to use Microsoft Security Essentials.

6. Can Faculty and Staff use Microsoft Security Essentials at work?

No. This would be a violation of Microsoft’s licensing for the product. Staff and Faculty should use Forefront on all university-owned Windows computers under the UNH site license with Microsoft.

7. Has UNH IT tested Forefront or Microsoft Security Essentials?

Yes, individuals from UNT IT have successfully tested both Forefront Endpoint Protection and Microsoft Security Essentials.

8. How do I update my virus definitions for Forefront?

Instructions on how to update definitions are available here.

9. How do I update my virus definitions for Microsoft Security Essentials?

Instructions on how to update definitions are available here.

10. How do I scan with Forefront?

Instructions on how to scan are available here.

11. How do I scan with Microsoft Security Essentials?

Instructions on how to scan are available here.

12. What do I do if Forefront detects malware?

Instructions on removing detected viruses are available here.

13. What do I do if Microsoft Security Essentials detects malware?

Instructions on removing detected viruses are available here.

14. Why is UNH switching from McAfee?

UNH IT reevaluates software applications on regular cycles to ensure applications meet current needs and are the best fit for the university. Microsoft Security Essentials provides protection for individual users and is available at no charge. Forefront is a nearly identical product, licensed to organizations, that has the ability to be managed by UNH IT. The Forefront licenses for UNH faculty and staff are made possible by an agreement with Microsoft that covers several applications resulting in a substantial savings to the university.

15. When does the UNH McAfee contract expire?

The McAfee contract expires June 2012.

16. When should I stop using McAfee?

Staff and Faculty should stop using McAfee and begin using Forefront before June 2012. Students should stop using McAfee and install Microsoft Security Essentials, or a virus protection program of their choice, before June 2012. However, UNH IT suggests users make the switch well before June 2012.

17. What will happen to users who do not remove McAfee? Will their VirusScan installations still update?

Users who neglect to uninstall McAfee will still be able to update VirusScan’s definitions from McAfee automatically. However, UNH IT asks that they remove McAfee in order to install another antivirus product such as Microsoft Security Essentials or Forefront.

18. How do I remove McAfee?

If you are using Windows XP information is available here. For Windows Vista and Windows 7 information is available here.

19. Can the latest virus definition updates for Forefront be manually downloaded?

If your computer does not have internet access, it may be necessary to update virus definitions manually.  The process to download and install virus definitions for Forefront is explained by Microsoft in this document. You may need to transfer the virus definition installer to the computer in question from a computer with internet access before installing it.

20. Can the latest virus definition updates for Microsoft Security Essentials be manually downloaded?

If your computer does not have internet access, it may be necessary to update virus definitions manually.  The process to download and install virus definitions for Microsoft Security Essentials is explained by Microsoft in this document.  You may need to transfer the virus definition installer to the computer in question from a computer with internet access before installing it.