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From: frisk@rhi.hi.is (Fridrik Skulason)
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: Re: Responses to F-PROT query
Message-ID: <0011.9008151251.AA12488@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 15 Aug 90 09:03:23 GMT
Sender: Virus Discussion List <VIRUS-L@LEHIIBM1>
Lines: 64
Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu

Well, it is nice to know that people like my programs, but I just wanted to
add a few comments about F-PROT.

    Version 1.12 is the latest available, but it is not 100% up to date.
    The reason is that a number of new viruses arrived while I was on
    vacation, and I am busy adding the detection/removal of them to version
    1.13, which will be distributed sometimes around Sept 1. Detecting the
    viruses is of course just a matter of finding a good search pattern, but
    writing a disinfector for every virus takes a bit of time.

    The viruses not detected by 1.12 include some of the latest Bulgarian
    viruses (2100, the Bulgarian "Tiny" family) as well as some recent
    viruses from Taiwan, and a few other (Joshi, Casper, Anti-CAD and
    Subliminal + a few more).  I am working on bringing the program up to date
    again, but it will take me a few more days.

    Some people have complained that the programs are a bit hard to use and
    install.  I know - I know.... :-)   I am working on what I call version 2,
    which is much improved in this area - Menus, auto-install etc.

    I have not yet had the time to finish version 2, but when I do, I have
    do decide whether to...

    ...turn version 2.x into a commercial program, quite serparate from the
    sharevare version 1.x.  The commercial program would of course be more
    expensive, but buyers would get telephone support and a printed manual.

    ...make 2.0 shareware as well - personally I would want to make it
    freeware, but I just cannot afford it .... see below...

    What I do depends partially on how much money I make from registration.
    Writing/distributing F-PROT is no personal gold mine - in fact, my
    involvement in the anti-virus area has probably resulted in a reduction
    in my income - as the virus-related work continues to increase, I have
    had to cut back my work outside the university.

    I have asked people registering a copy for a single computer to send
    in $15.  I have, however, discovered that the work involved in cashing
    the checks and mailing out a new copy of the program takes up too much
    of my time.

    It has also turned out that the amounts I receive are usually either $15
    (single copy) or $500 (500+ machines), so what I am planning to do is
    make the programs free of charge to individuals, using them on a single
    computer.

    Anyhow - I'm not 100% sure what I will do - I just want to spend my
    time programming, not mailing out programs.... :-)

    The problem is also that even though I would like to make the programs
    free of charge to anybody, I have to make a living from this as I spend
    50% of my time on viruses and F-PROT.  Freeware programs may be possible
    on the Mac, with only 10-20 viruses, but on the PC with over 200 different
    virus variants they are totally impractical.

    So, this is the situation.  I must assure you, that whatever happens I
    will continue to support the program and update it in one form or another.

 -frisk

- --
Fridrik Skulason      University of Iceland  |
Technical Editor of the Virus Bulletin (UK)  |  Reserved for future expansion
E-Mail: frisk@rhi.hi.is    Fax: 354-1-28801  |