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From: lev@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov (Brian S. Lev)
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: Re: Query - Disinfectant vs. Virex (Mac)
Message-ID: <0005.9101241627.AA14372@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 23 Jan 91 00:07:54 GMT
Sender: Virus Discussion List <VIRUS-L@LEHIIBM1>
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Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu

Hi, all...

I was "volunteered" to handle Mac "security" (read: virus protection)
here at Goddard roughly a year ago, and after some research and
consultation with a number of local gurus decided to throw in my lot
with Disinfectant.  Admittedly the primary reason was that it was FREE
(and it worked!), so there were no problems with licensing X copies.
I just wanted to add my 2 cents' worth to RD Francis' message...

>As far as I know, from the standpoint of reliability, both products
>are completely reliable.

Ditto here -- if I put a disk into a Mac with either one of these programs
(assuming Virex has been updated!), I feel confident that it's safe.

>                          The only differences visible to the user are
>minor cosmetic differences in implementing the interface, the
>commercial vs. PD issue, and the cost.

One other factor: in general, I find Disinfectant less "obtrusive", in
that the scan is fast and silent, and you don't have to worry about
interruptions unless you *need* one, i.e., to tell you a file's been
infected.


>                                        By commercial vs. PD, I mean
>that some people would prefer to use a commercial product
>that they have to pay to get upgrades for because that prodcut's
>creators are more motivated to keep the program up-to-date, and less
>likely to drop support.  Personally, I recommend Disinfectant; John
>Norstad's done a great job, his updates are usually the first I hear
>of the existance of a new Mac virus, and his support for the product
>has been wonderful.

I will heartily second that!  Again, I'm not out to "plug" any product, and I
feel equally confident about the safety of my files with either Virex OR Disin-
fectant, but the upgrades to the latter 1) come faster, 2) are more readily
available, 3) are trustworthy, 4) THEY WORK, and 5) don't cost diddly squat
beyond your network connection (or a blank floppy if you get it from someone).

Here at Goddard, I now distribute what's called "MacSecure" (now at vers. 3.0).
It's a single (800K) floppy containing Disinfectant (the most recent version
available, as soon as we're able to lay hands on it), a reallllly good Hyper-
Card stack put together by Joe McMahon (one of my colleagues here) that tells
you all kinds of good stuff about viruses, how they work, how to "kill" them,
and reviews virus fighters, and a smaller "MacHelper" stack that I threw
together to give hints & tips and explain what some of those ugly Sad Macs and
Mac Bombs mean...  I know that an unfortunate number of users ignore and/or
discard the HyperCard stacks, but Disinfectant continually gathers raves from
MacSecure users -- and that now includes several NASA centers, a number of
NASA-affiliated contractors, several local computer sites... and after a series
of VERY unexpected phone calls, the (then-known-as) Operation Desert Shield!

Again, Virex *is* good stuff -- but thank you thank you thank you John Norstad!

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