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Date:	Tue, 30 Jul 2002 12:30:54 PST7
From:	"J. R. Fox" <jr_fox@pacbell.net >
Reply-To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
To:	scoug-help@scoug.com
Subject:	SCOUG-Help: Re: Anti-Virus program

Content Type: text/plain

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Jack Huffman wrote:

> Do Viruscan v 6.0 and Norton Anti-virus 2002 both support OS/2? Which is
> the better of the two at detecting viruses? Which is easier to setup and
> use? Or is there some other anti-virus that will work better with Warp4
> FP 15 and its successors?

I haven't followed the status of McAfee 6.0, as 5.0 was the last CD I bought from them, but they
dropped OS/2 (first their more recent OS/2 product, then I think completely) from inclusion in
their later multi-platform edition CDs. But they still had their latest OS/2 "engine" and the
weekly DATfiles available for d/l on their website. I'm still using the 4.1.60 engine, released
at the end of last year, which corrected some serious bugs in the prior two engines that had the
product crashing all the time. It seems to work pretty well. I continue with it, because I'm
accustomed to it, and because they have been leaving their last two OS/2 engine versions on a
part of their site where you don't need a password to get in. No doubt this is because they now
consider their OS/2 version to be too marginal to care about. Normally, you need a support
contract to get the new engines, unless you are within 90 days of the last retail product
purchase. The weekly DATfiles (signatures) are free.

If you read their "End of Product Lifecycle" statement, you will see reference to the new world
order of a periodic re-licensing schedule, which is the way most software is going these days.
They also mention that the OS/2 engine 4.1.80 will be *the last* for that platform. My guess is
that it will come out around the end of the year. Be sure to grab it then, if you're
interested.

I was discussing this subject with Randall Flint, of Sundial Systems, who is very well informed
on many software issues. He told me that Norton currently has what is clearly the best
detection / removal engine. However, the handwriting has been on the wall for quite some time
that they are intending to drop OS/2 support as well. If you want a longer term future, you may
have to go with Norman.

> Did I read somewhere that McAfee and Norton now charge an annual fee for
> updates?

In the case of McAfee, I believe the interval is more frequent than annual, though I'm sure they
offer an annual-basis price too.

Later on, Svobi added:

> An annual fee is cheaper than loosing data ...
> ... and saves your nerves and time ;-)

Well, if you don't happen to be one of us multi-platform folks, a decent case could be made for
skipping this category altogether. I haven't yet come across anything that posed much of a
threat to OS/2. I've tangled with stuff like Magistr-W32, which wreaks considerable havoc on
Win installations, and it caused only some minor hiccups in OS/2, before expiring. Of course, I
suppose you wouldn't want to unwittingly pass an infection on to our less enlightened brethren .
. . .

Jordan

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