PCVISPY.RVW 920711
Comparison Review
Company and product:
RG Software Systems Inc
6900 East Camelback Road
Suite 630
Scottsdale AZ 85251
602 423 8000
FAX (602) 423-8389
BBS (602) 970-6901
Ray Glath <76304.1407@CompuServe.COM>;
Vi-Spy 9.0 Professional Edition
Summary: Scanner, disinfection and operation monitoring
Cost: $150, site licensing available (starting at $40/unit min. 25)
Rating (1-4, 1 = poor, 4 = very good)
"Friendliness"
Installation 2
Ease of use 3
Help systems 1
Compatibility 3
Company
Stability 3
Support 3
Documentation 2
Hardware required 4
Performance 3
Availability 2
Local Support ?
General Description:
Virus scanning and disinfection, both resident and non-resident. Also some
recovery and operation monitoring. Recommended for intermediate users.
Provision is made for Windows operation. Automatic scheduler utility.
Comparison of features and specifications
User Friendliness
Installation
Vi-Spy was shipped to me on writable but protected media, low density 3 1/2"
and high density 5 1/4", but I have been informed by Ray Glath that this is
only for review copies: ordinarily the product is shipped on non-writable
disks. An installation program is provided, as are instructions for manual
installation. The automatic installation seems to consist merely of copying
and decompressing files, although it does check for viral infection before
proceeding and will refuse to proceed if infection is present. Installation to
Windows is a part of the package, but in testing this was found not to work
effectively. (An addition was made to the WIN.INI file, but no "icon" was
entered into the Windows system.) (Ray Glath contests this: there is supposed
to be an additional step that the user is directed to take. I ran the
installation three times and reached the same result each time.)
Ease of use
The various programs are easy to use, although the plethora of command line
options recommends careful study of the manual. The on-screen messages are
quite clear, and contain good explanations of the options and possible
situations to the user.
Help systems
The VSMENU programs allow "on-line" reading of the documentation, and also
provides for additional material to be added by the user. However, it would be
difficult to call it a "help system" as such. The onscreen display is simply a
visual editor. One would hope, for example, to be able to "search" the list of
viral programs: one cannot.
Compatibility
No problems were found in testing. The primary test machine reserves an
extensive area at the top of memory. In testing, this was identified as a
possible viral type activity. The potential danger, as well as other possible
causes, were listed, but there was an option to proceed, rather than merely
reboot.
Company Stability
RG Software Systems is one of the oldest commercial (non-shareware) makers of
antiviral software.
Company Support
The company lists phone, fax and BBS numbers for support. This is the first
time I have received a tech support callback before I received the software for
review. Two days before I received the package Ray Glath called to apologize
for an unsatisfactory support call in which the caller had intimated he was
myself. (I am by no means making fun of RG Software here. It should be noted
that Ray Glath is one of the only producers of antiviral software who has
bothered to take advantage of my offer to "review the review" before I posted
it to the net. (Another notable exception is Ross Greenberg who posted a very
gracious response after I stupidly failed to send him an advance copy.) He did
so in writing and in depth. He also offered to provide the names of a number
of referees as to the support RG Software provides.)
Only one mention, strangely for a scanning program, is made of the need for
updates. However, that mention is that return of the warranty registration
provides the user with free quarterly upgrades for one year. (Ray Glath
subsequently informed me that the user is informed at the end of the year, and
offered the option of continuing with update maintenance.)
The accompanying promotional material received with the package made strong
representation regarding support. It stressed that many commercial antiviral
packages have been bought, rather than developed, by the distributors. It is
good to see that RG is bucking this disturbing trend. It also made much of the
written material, including a white paper and the "Primer" (see below). The
white paper was a fairly straightforward presentation of observations with
regard to the viral situation, and a list of policy recommendations heavily
weighted towards "only buy commercial software". (To be fair, BBSes are not
portrayed as universally evil.)
Documentation
There are two booklets that come with the package, as well as a number of files
on disk. One of the books is a "Guide to Operations": the actual manual for
the program. The manual is quite clear as to the installation and operation.
However, the layout gives a feeling of "clutter" and presents something of an
imposing front. While there is a single sheet inserted into the front of the
manual which provides for quick installation, more effective protection
requires a thorough reading of the manual. This should not be a problem for
any intermediate user as the manual is less than fifty pages.
The second manual is a "Computer Virus Primer and Troubleshooting Guide".
Accompanying forms and promotional materials allow you to order additional
copies of this booklet "as an educational/training tool". While there is much
material of merit in the booklet, in the end it is simply more documentation
for the Vi-Spy program. (There is, for example, no attempt to deal with viral
infections other than with an antiviral tool.) It is, however, considerably
simpler to read than the "Guide to Operations".
Hardware Requirements
The only requirement listed is for DOS 2 or higher and at least 150K of memory.
Performance
In tests the program performed well and speedily. Messages, and particularly
identification of viral programs, were quite clear.
The package appears to be very concerned with boot sector infectors, a very
good thing in the current climate.
Local Support
None provided.
Support Requirements
The intermediate user should be able to use this program very effectively,
provided time is taken to read the manuals. The novice user should be able to
obtain a good measure of protection from the automatic installation, but will
likely require assistance in obtaining full advantage from the program.
General Notes
Recommended for intermediate users. Adjunct "changed detection" software might
also be desireable. (In reaction to the review, Ray Glath informed me that
change detection is due in the next release of the product.)
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1992 PCVISPY.RVW 920711
======================
roberts@decus.ca rslade@vcn.bc.ca rslade@vanisl.decus.ca
Materialists are Object Oriented
Author "Robert Slade's Guide to Computer Viruses" 0-387-94663-2 (800-SPRINGER)