Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows 95/98/Me Release Notes ---------------------------------------------------- March 2001 (3.43) www.sophos.com New in this version ------------------- All Sophos Anti-Virus versions have been updated with new virus information. A list of new viruses detected by Version 3.43 can be found in 'What's New' or in the READNEWS.TXT file on the Release CD, or in the READNEWS.TXT file on the SWEEP for DOS Version 3.43 Installation Disk. * The scanning of Office 2001 files is now turned on by default. * The scanning of Palm pilot binary files (PRC file extention) is supported and enabled by default. * The scanning of ActiveMime files (MSO file extention) is supported and enabled by default. * The scanning of both LZH/LHA archives and MS Compressed files is supported. Recent Improvements ------------------- * The scanning of Microsoft Cabinet files is no longer enabled when archive file handling is enabled. It can be individually enabled. Additional information ---------------------- 1. Sweep VxD Stand-alone InterCheck is now able to disinfect files that have been marked as 'read only'. 2. Setup The setup program has been enhanced in a number of significant ways: * When Sophos Anti-Virus is being installed, a new splash screen is displayed. * It is possible to disable the 'Did you know' CD splash screen behaviour by adding the following setting in the registry: Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Sophos\Autorun Value Name: No Prelaunch Type: REG_DWORD Data: 0x00000001 * 'Setup /update' now has priority over workstation installations, i.e. 'setup /update' will not fail because a workstation is in the process of establishing the need to upgrade or is in the process of upgrading. * Several new command line qualifiers have been added to the setup program: -a non-interactive install -ni non-interactive setup -in invisible setup program -inl invisible loader * Improvements have been made to the optimised file updating routines to transfer fewer files during the update process. 3. Messaging sub-system Significant improvements have been implemented to allow multiple language support. * All interface resources are held in a shared file accessible by Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows 95/98/Me and NT. * Some resource inconsistencies between languages have been fixed. * The messages displayed when Sophos Anti-Virus is unable to copy, move, delete, or rename viral files have been improved and the error counts now accurately reflect these conditions. * Forcing the SMTP SMM to send its reports as MIME-encoded attachments is now possible. To do this add the following value to the registry: Key: HLM\SOFTWARE\Sophos\Sweep95\SMMs\SMTP.smm Value Name: Mime Encode Type: REG_DWORD Data: 0x00000001 4. Sophos Anti-Virus Graphical User Interface * No limit on the number of extensions in executables list. * Horizontal scrollbar in log interface window if needed. * Virus library viewer now an external application. * Exclusion of specified directories from scanning is possible. * Immediate and scheduled jobs may now be created, copied and configured via a right button menu. 5. Virus library viewer * This is now a stand-alone application that is launched from the main interface (or Explorer / Command prompt). Up to two command line qualifiers can be used: Usage: SVL.EXE [/d=] [/v=] /d= - Specifies the Virus Library Data file to use. /v= - Specifies the Virus Information to display. * Improved online help. * Multiple instances can be run simultaneously and independently of the Sophos Anti-Virus interface application * SVL.EXE will not launch in a terminal client session. * Changes to the font and the colours in the virus information dialog are possible -- these settings will be used for printing. * Copying the details of a virus to the clipboard and pasting the details into another application, either as plain text or in rich text format is now possible. * The virus library viewer application stores your user preferences for when you relaunch it. * The virus library viewer application now displays information relating to script file viruses. 6. Improved interaction with files held in off-line storage By default, during immediate and scheduled scans, Sophos Anti-Virus will not retrieve files marked as being held in off-line storage for scanning. This default behaviour can be over-ridden by setting the following value in the registry. Key: HLM\Software\Sophos\ADVANCED\ Value Name: SCAN_FILES_IN_HSM Type: REG_DWORD Data: 0x00000001 7. Archive scanning The following archive types: ARJ, CMZ, GZIP, RAR, TAR, ZIP, LHA, LZH and files compressed with MS Compress are additionally scanned when the 'Scan inside archives' box is ticked. Self extracting archives of known archive types are scanned as archives if archive handling has been switched on for that type. Otherwise they will be scanned only as executables. Known problems -------------- None. Troubleshooting --------------- The following problems may require the use of the Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE). Microsoft have issued the following warning with respect to the Registry Editor: "Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95/98/Me to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk." Compatibility issues -------------------- 1. Bay Networks (Performance Technologies) Instant Internet A conflict between the version of the WinSock client installed by the Instant Internet application and the Sophos SMTP.SMM module can lead to the Sophos Anti-Virus service not starting or stopping correctly. As a work-around, add the following value to the registry. Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Sophos\Sweep95\SMMS\SMTP\ Value Name: No Startup Check Type: REG_DWORD Data: 0x1 This work-around will prevent the SMTP module checking for the appropriate network transport protocols during startup. ----------------