ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE NIGHTMARE: NORTON VS. MCAFEE [Product Review]

Online Newsletter, May, 1999

Even downloading the update file twice, in the chance that the original downloaded file was corrupted, failed to resolve the problem.

All in all, this reviewer spent the bulk of two entire days (weekend excepted, when McAfee's ''free'' tech support is not available). ... In addition -four- separate McAfee tech support people were questioned over this time - each of whom really didn't have the vaguest clue as to what was wrong. ... The last tech support person identified himself as being a ''technician'' who said the file trying to be downloaded (4020updt.exe) was incorrect, and to download a zip file called ''DAT_4020.exe'' from the Network Associates server. (This turned out to be ''DAT_4019.exe.'') .. It didn't work either.

... But the uninstall program -did- work, and promptly removed the McAfee VirusScan from the PC. ... Forget about upgrading the Windows 95 product!

If this reviewer didn't ''just fall off the turnip truck,'' then think of the number of unwitting users attempting to use this product.

Norton AntiVirus

In the one-month interim period since purchasing the McAfee product, the new Norton AntiVirus Version 5.0 became available. It too, now contains all Windows versions (Windows 3.1, 95/98, NT) on a single CD-ROM disc. (The Windows 3.1 version is 4.0.) - The price is competitive.

This reviewer quickly bought it - and installed it in both Windows 3.1 as well as Windows 95 without hitches or glitches of -any- kind.

It was not necessary to call Norton's tech support at all!

Furthermore, there was no apparent slowing down of any PC functions, mouse, or .WAV files.

Norton AntiVirus contains features that include:

Scheduler - This permits the user to select weekly or monthly scans automatically.

Auto-Protect - This runs in the background to ensure a virus does not gain entry.

Scan at Start-up - Makes sure that critical system file are virus-free each time the system is started up.

LiveUpdate - Connects to a Symantec Web site and automatically updates/upgrades the DAT files and program to the latest versions.

Rescue Disks - Allows the user to boot-up the PC from the A drive if the hard drive should become infected (boot sector, etc.).

Netscape Helpers - Scans for viruses when you download using a Netscape browser.

Once installed in both versions of Windows, the LiveUpdate feature was activated. This does not use a browser, but rather uses Norton's own built-in connection feature that dials-up your local ISP and connects automatically to Symantec's download server. This is an absolutely fabulous and painless feature for updating/upgrading. (Because the DAT definitions virus list is growing so rapidly, it was found that it took three ''passes'' to completely download the updates for Windows 95, and the DAT disks increased from two to five diskettes. ... Not a problem.)

The LiveUpdate feature is free for an entire year from date of purchase and $3.95 a year thereafter. (One can live with that!)

... and if you want to view a list of the viruses (with info on most of them also available and what each one does), you can use the built-in viewer. In looking for Melissa it was found the real name is called ''W97M.Melissa.'' (along with some other Melissa variants). They're all there in the list. ... And the first time around!