How does the software remain updated?
To be successful the anti-virus product must be updated frequently. Iris Software offers three easy and accessible ways to update the virus signature file:1. CompuServe - Those who subscribe to CompuServe can download frequent updates from a site located inside the vast resources of CompuServe. Subscribers do not have to give any information and are billed along with their monthly fees from CompuServe. 2. 1-900 Number (USA ONLY) - Iris offers, at the touch of a button, the facility to let your computer dial in via modem to access the download. Once again, the customer does not have to give any information and will be billed by their long-distance carrier.3. Web Site - Iris Software maintains an internet site for easy downloading of the updated virus signature file. Customers give their credit card numbers (over a secure server) and the file is downloaded into the appropriate directory. Conclusion
We have now reached a point in time where there are over 1,000 macro viruses and over 12,000 known viruses in all. No one can say for sure what the future holds for virus detection. The trend seems to be leading towards heuristic features inside the anti-virus product. The researchers are trying to find a way to remove the danger of false alarms. At the time of writing, Iris has succeeded in detecting over 80% of viruses with no false alarms. The other major change that can be foreseen is the importance of the curing grade. Until now, companies have concentrated on their scanning percentage. Those involved in comparison reviews only ran the scanners in competition while leaving out the second half of the anti-virus product. It is time-consuming to check the curing of a given product. Obviously, users don’t want to be told that their computer is infected, but their anti-virus product has no cure. The real-world demands that there be a cure for each curable virus. Curing is not as easy as it sounds. The infected file must be left intact (aside from the virus being removed). If the anti-virus product leaves the file in an unusable state, then it has done the job for the virus. Iris AntiVirus is an example of a scanner that will leave all files intact and usable. As viruses continue to sprout up in greater numbers, we must all remain attentive to the anti-virus efforts. A few years ago, no one could have predicted the advent of macro viruses. Now, no one can say for certain where the next slew of viruses will come from. Remember, keep yourself informed and your product updated. .