Get the bugs out

Entrepreneur, Sept, 1997 by Cassandra Cavanah

Virex installs a "DropScan" icon on the desktop for users to drag files, folders or volumes into for virus assessment. Beware, however: You first need to install the Virex Control Panel before DropScan will work.

Virex's biggest selling point is speed - something to consider when you're in the middle of important work and your anti-virus software stops to analyze what's going on. Virex's SpeedScan definitely does this faster than SAM.

Both SAM and Virex will protect your Macintosh from viruses. In the end, I found that neither is clearly better than the other. SAM's ability to easily monitor suspicious activities is a plus, while Datawatch's dedication to speed and protection against Microsoft Office 97 macro viruses plays in Virex's favor.

REPORT CARD

4: EXCELLENT 3: GOOD 2: FAIR 1: POOR

4 SYMANTEC ANTIVIRUS FOR MACINTOSH LIST PRICE: $69 SYMANTEC CORP. (800) 441-7234 WWW.SYMANTEC.COM

Pluses: Simple to use, easily accessible online updates

Minuses: None of note

3.5 VIREX 5.7 LIST PRICE: $99 DATAWATCH CORP. (508) 988-970 WWW.DATAWATCH.COM

Pluses: Intuitive, includes detection for Microsoft Office 97 macro viruses

Minuses: Monitoring of suspicious activities not as seamless as Symantec's program

RELATED ARTICLE: HOT DISKS

NEW AND NOTABLE SOFTWARE

* JFAX Personal Telecom: If your work takes you on the road, you'll want to look at JFAX Personal Telecom. The service works in tandem with virtually any e-mail program to send subscribers voice messages and faxes. Users purchase phone numbers that people can call or fax to; then, when you're on the road, voice and fax messages can be retrieved via the Internet. There is a $15 activation fee for the service, which costs $12.50 per month for 100 incoming messages or fax pages. Additional messages cost 20 cents apiece. You can also save money in long-distance costs by using JFAX to send faxes. Visit www.jfax.com or call (888) GET-JFAX for more information.

* QuickMail Pro Server: CE Software's QuickMail Pro Server for Mac OS will be available by the time you read this. This e-mail server delivers advanced capabilities such as mailing lists and auto responders as well as support for connections to the Internet and integration with other applications like desktop faxing and paging. Pro Server is a key component of QuickMail Office, an easy-to-set-up e-mail program that also includes the POP3 e-mail server for Windows NT, Windows 95 or Mac OS. QuickMail Pro Server costs $99.95 for five users; $149.95 for 10 users; $249.95 for 25 users, and so on. Visit www.cesoft.com or call (515) 221-1801 for more information.

Cassandra Cavanah is a contributing editor of Portable Computing Direct Shopper magazine and has reported on the computer industry for eight years.