      *** The following information is provided to describe ***
      ***      the options available and the terms used     ***


                        DETECTION & DISINFECTION
                        ------------------------

  The panel on the bottom right of the screen is provided to list up
  to six anti-virals scanners and also to identify those that offer a
  disinfection option, where feasible.

  Each anti-viral earns a check mark if it can detect some but not
  necessarily all of the strains on the record and it earns two check
  marks if it can also offer disinfection.

  Tests show that no one scanner can be relied upon to find every
  strain of every virus listed, particularly as new 'hacks' keep
  appearing which have been specifically targeted at one or more of
  the scanners. Similarly, disinfection is not always feasible even
  after successful detection, possibly because the virus or its target
  has not behaved predictably or because a positive identification has
  not been made. In case of doubt check with the supplier.

  No scanner can positively detect a totally new virus except as a
  matter of chance but some perform better than others at picking out
  'unknown' boot sectors on diskettes and some also provide generic
  disinfection on diskette boot sectors.

  Variants of already known viruses can often be identified as a
  'possible' infection if 2 or 3 judiciously chosen scanners are used.

  False alarms are on the increase reflecting the growth in the number
  of viruses that are now known. Consequential action to a false alarm
  can sometimes cause more damage than the virus concerned.

  Attempts to disinfect systems that have, or are suspected of having,
  viruses can also cause more damage than the virus concerned.

  Positive identification of a virus is a pre-requisite to determining
  the appropriate remedial actions needed.

  Some files get infected by more than one virus or more than once by
  the same virus. When disinfecting, have you cleared out all the
  layers? And are there any viruses lurking in archived files, out of
  sight of the scanners?

             ++++++++++++++   end of report   ++++++++++++
