-=> My computer told me that Rick Collins said to Richard St. John
 RC> The point is the tests done can be as well done and comprehensive as
 RC> possible, but the data gleaned from the tests is useful _only_ in the
 RC> test scenario itself, and it is unwise and perhaps foolish to
 RC> extrapolate those test results to the "real world".  Unfortunately,
 RC> that is _exactly_ what the casual reader of those tests does.
Actually the point is that they have subjected X number of virus
scanners to the same series of tests. They then presented how the tests
were performed and the information gleaned from those tests in numbers.
Their testing may not have sent EVERY virus against these scanners, but
in the test sequences {that they posted along with the kind/number of
each virus} you can determine how each virus scanner reacted to the test
scenerio. These test results are readily available on the net for anyone
to view.
My company, in our evaluations of 10 scanners last year did basically
the same thing, but we shot a larger amount of infected files at it and
came up with some pretty interesting results. This information is for
company internal use only and is NOT available on the web, therefore I
don't mention it as us having done the work.
Virus Bulletin has done the work, and has put the results out on the web
ALONG with the testing methods used. People can then see the results and
how the tests were run.
 RC> I have an AV program here that will, without fail, advise the user of
 RC> every single infected file on his system, and will warn of a boot
 RC> sector infector or an in-memory virus.  It does not have a "cleaning"
 RC> routine because I prefer to delete and reinstall in the case of an
 RC> infection as I consider that the safest course of action.  Some may
 RC> not like my program because of that, but that's life.
Actually delete and reinstall is the safest method because I have seen
some 'cleaner' tramp all over the file and render it useless anyways.
RS
... "Bother," said Pooh, as he received his America Online bill.
--- GEcho 1.20/Pro
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