PCVAULTP.RVW  931227
                               Comparison Review
 
Company and product:
 
Johnson Computer Systems, Inc.
20 Dinwiddie Place
Newport News, Virginia 23602
804-872-9583
Fax: 804-874-8090
BBS: 804-877-6261
PC-Vault software write protection (formerly PC-Lock)
 
Summary: very simple general security program
                              
 
Cost PC-Vault U$35, PC-Vault Plus U$90
 
Rating (1-4, 1 = poor, 4 = very good)
      "Friendliness"
            Installation      3
            Ease of use       3
            Help systems      1
      Compatibility           2
      Company
            Stability         2
            Support           2
      Documentation           2
      Hardware required       3
      Performance             1
      Availability            2
      Local Support           1
 
General Description:
 
A minimal set of security features for MS-DOS systems.
 
                  Comparison of features and specifications
 
 
 
User Friendliness
 
Installation
 
PC-Vault and PC-Vault Plus are shipped on unprotected 1.2M diskettes (one for
each).  The installation process is two-phased, with a preparatory step to
configure the program and then the installation itself.  There are extensive
reminders to read the documentation on disk.
 
Ease of use
 
The functions of PC-Vault are much simpler than most other general security
products, and are consequently much simpler to use.
 
Help systems
 
Online help is not available.
 
Compatibility
 
There are extensive warnings about compatibility problems with various
utilities.  Use of PC-Vault to protect the MBR and boot sector may conflict
with other antiviral software.
 
Company Stability
 
Unknown.
 
Company Support
 
Unknown.
 
Documentation
 
The documentation is quite short and refers strictly to program operation.
 
System Requirements
 
None stated.
 
Performance
 
PC-Vault is intended to provide some password protection for access to PCs, as
well as optional directory restrictions.  The protection should be adequate for
most users up to an intermediate level of skill but may not be effective
against a determined attack.  Recovery after infection by a boot sector
infector may present problems.
 
Local Support
 
None provided.
 
 
Support Requirements
 
Installation and operation are fairly simple, and should require a minimum of
support.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1993   PCVAULTP.RVW  931227

======================
roberts@decus.ca    slade@freenet.victoria.bc.ca    Rob_Slade@mindlink.bc.ca
   "A fool's brain digests philosophy into folly, science into superstition,
        and art into pedantry.  Hence University education."  -G B Shaw
Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" 0-387-94663-2 (800-SPRINGER)