It's been two weeks since the UNet staff began a large-scale effort to protect the university's computer network from Internet-born viruses, and members of the student-run service and the entire Brandeis community can breathe a bit easier. According to UNet sources, the worst of the security risk is over, and the vast majority of students whose computers were affected or vulnerable to viruses have been assisted and are functioning properly.

"We've had somewhere between 100 and 150 cases of the viruses," said Nat Budin '05, a member of the UNet staff. "We've gone through almost all of them." Since the panic of the first few days, the volume of calls and visits to the Unet headquarters in Shapiro campus center has gradually decreased.

"It looks like everything's died down," UNet staff member Dmitry Gimzelberg '06 said.

As students arrived on campus on August 24, UNet's staff of 16 was scrambling to ensure that all computers were protected from viruses and immune to security risks within Microsoft Windows XP.

CDs containing antivirus software, paper handouts with step-by-step procedures, and detailed online instructions amounted to a bold first stand in a technological battle that now seems to be tipping in UNet's favor. On Aug. 26 and 27 and then again on Aug. 31, the staff ran organized "blitzes," with half of the staff patrolling the residence halls in North Quad and the other half manning Massell Quad. Students were offered in-room assistance with their computers.

"It was pretty hectic the first weekend when all the freshmen came up," said staff member Ye Tian '06. "I was running through Massell-I was there for 10 hours during the blitzes. But in all it wasn't bad. We've gone through lots of people."

The online forums at my.brandeis.edu continue to serve as an alternative to using the phone or visiting the UNet help desk in Shapiro. Students with computer trouble can post a message and will usually receive an answer within twelve hours of the posting.

"The forums are preferable for me," explained UNet staff member Jon Sagotsky '05, "because if I don't have an answer, I have time to look one up, and in theory I only have to answer a question once since it's available for others to read. Most basic questions have already been answered there."

As pleased as they are with their own response to the crisis, many UNet staff members have been impressed with the student reaction as well. "I've worked at tech jobs before," says Budin, " and usually people are screaming mad over the phone. But I'm really impressed with how level-headed Brandeis students are - It's quite a pleasant shock."

Team Leader Omar Haq '04 credited the first year students, whom he described as being "very helpful." Haq, however, was less enthused with the university's advertising effort. "Last Sunday's blitz, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., we fixed approximately four computers. That's preposterous. It hasn't been advertised as much as it should be." He added, though, that "the Tuesday and Wednesday blitzes were very successful. I personally fixed about 25 computers."

Though the worst of the storm has been weathered, UNet is still hard at work.

"When on blitzes," explained Sagotsky, "we have to ignore the tricky problems because solving one of them takes as long as connecting ten people with minor problems. Naturally we connect ten people and save the one tricky one for later. Now its later, so troubleshooting has gotten infinitely more difficult."

Regarding the volume of phone calls during UNet shifts, Sagotsky explained, "These days, I never stop talking. That's not abnormal for the beginning of the semester, though.