Product Reviews

In keeping with the philosophy prevalent throughout its PC utility suites, McAfee just can't resist bundling in extra utilities with this latest release of VirusScan. However, in this instance you only get Safe and Sound - a simple tool that provides backup protection for files as you use them. It works by copying files to a protected area on a local or networked hard disk and can mirror any changes made to your data files in real-time to provide the most up-to-date copies. The main VirusScan program sees a few new and welcome features with support for Windows XP, a new main interface and a bootable installation CD-ROM.

One of the most interesting additions is HAWK (hostile activity watch kernel), which adds an extra safety layer by rooting out suspicious email activity. It keeps a watch for attempts to send emails to unfeasibly large portions of your address book, attempts to forward multiple emails in quick succession and attachments that contain executable files. A pattern monitor also watches for multiple emails being sent that have message sections of a similar size.

Installation

ADVERTISEMENT

is simple enough, during which VirusScan creates a single emergency boot floppy that can be used to disinfect systems from DOS. The main Windows interface is a colourful affair, but it's not as easy to navigate as AntiVirus 2002. An option is provided for accessing McAfee's firewall utility, but as this is only bundled with the US version of VirusScan it's not much use. You can run on-demand scans on the entire system and disks, folders or individual files and decide on what actions should be taken when a virus is detected. If you want to be asked you can select either a Windows GUI prompt or a full-screen textbox, which will stop your system in its tracks until it receives a response.

Real-time scanning is dealt with by a VShield background utility that keeps a close eye on all file-related activity and will block access to any dubious files. VShield checks all Internet downloads along with ActiveX controls and Java applets, and you can deny access to specific Web sites using either a URL or IP address. Email attachments get the same treatment and you can specify the types of attachments you want checked. VShield can be set to work in the background and automatically clean infected files as it picks them up.

For comparatively simple infections such as Word macros this works well enough, although for tougher viruses VShield will simply delete the file if it's unable to clean it.

Network Associates and Symantec have always been battling it out in the consumer software market, although this time the latter looks to have a slight edge, as Norton AntiVirus 2002 provides a similar level of features but is much easier to configure and use.