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Network Port Deactivation
This will happen if any type of virus-like activity is going on with your computer. We deactivate network ports in order to protect other Network Users, much like a law enforcement officer will take a dangerous driver off our highways. It is done to protect the other citizens.
If your network port gets deactivated, please do not plug your computer into another wall jack. This will cause that wall jack to get deactivated, too, and that just causes problems for everyone.
Most of the time a computer gets infected because of software installed that is downloaded from the internet. If you're not sure about the software, don't install it. If you're surfing the internet and you get a popup indicating your system is infected with a virus or spyware, and it offers to install something to "protect your computer", you can almost be certain the "something" that gets installed is spyware. You just got tricked. Don't believe everything you read. And when you close the popup boxes, use the "X" at the top, right corner, not a button inside the popup.
Sometimes a computer gets infected because file sharing software is installed (kazaa, limewire, etc.). This software is not usually illegal by itself. Some of the things it's used for may be illegal, though. If you create/produce a song, and own it, you can do whatever you want with it. But if someone else owns the song, you may or may not be allowed to share it. The same goes for videos and movies.
Most of this software is un-secure and can give other internet Users control of your system. This software sometimes results in ports being deactivated due to copyright violations. If SFA gets a notification that an SFA IP address is violating a copyright, the University must take action to block the alleged traffic, and must contact and counsel the Student. If the copyright owner pursues the matter, the person infringing on the copyright can be held financially liable and can be taken to court. If you are the accused, it is your responsibility (financially and legally) to resolve the issue.
Remember, there is no such thing as "anonymity" on the internet. SFA gets several infringement notices every week and it really is a simple matter to track down which User was assigned which IP address on a given day.
So, how do you get back on the network?
You have to have your system properly cleaned. The T.S.C. can do this for you, or you can do it yourself, or you can have someone off-campus do it for you. Just drop it off at the T.S.C., or call us and let us know that it's been done. If you get deactivated three times in one semester, your port may be left off for the duration of the semester. Remember, we have to protect the other Users from infected machines.
We do realize that not all "virus-like activity" is really caused by a virus/spyware infection. Some applications/games generate unexpected traffic that cause false positives on the network monitoring software. When this is the case, the port will be reactivated and the incident will not count as a "strike". Our sincere apologies go out to those who have been deactivated due to a false positive, and we hope you understand that we are truly trying to protect everyone.