-=> Steven Horn said to Greg Mayman
 -=> about "FTP07" on 04-24-03  19:21.....

 SH> Some of the trojans are very sneaky.

So I believe. Fortunately I've never had one... touch wood!

 SH> But if the virus originates in Asia or Russia, both companies may have
 SH> their definitions updated by the time they hit North America.

How do you work that out? It may take only hours before the virus
is all round the world. It amy take weeks before Norton and
MacAfee have a new definition file ready for their customers.

 SH> People either have no anti-virus software at all or what they have is
 SH> an obsolete version with outdated definition files.  I suppose it makes
 SH> computer shops happy because they get money for cleaning up the ensuing
 SH> mess.:-) 

Every time a new virus is released, every existing definition
file is outdated, since it can cover only viruses in existence at
the time of its release.

 SH> But to get back to F-PROT, while it has heuristic detection built in,
 SH> that still depends on what the program knows about existing viruses,
 SH> programs and worms so if you don't keep your F-PROT definition files up
 SH> to date, you may still be in trouble. 

The heuristic detection is based also on what tricks new viruses
are likely to use. Obviously this is based on what older viruses
used, but not limited to that. So it can give a degree of
protection against viruses that do not exist as yet.

But you could still be in trouble, even if you DO keep your def
files up to date.

Some time ago I saw an article advising never to rely on only one
virus detection system, especially one of the better known ones.

Logically, anyone creating a virus is going to try to make it
undetectable by the techniques used by the better known virus
detectors.

The writer suggested using at least two protection systems,
preferably using completely different techniques for detecting
virus.

+++THOUGHT FOR TODAY+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with other nations--
    entangling alliances with none.
                        Thomas Jefferson
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From Greg Mayman, in beautiful Adelaide, South Australia
   "Queen City of The South"    34:55 S  138:36 E

... Ignore previous tagline.
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