InoculateIT PE discontinuing program

[discogail]

"..... we have made the decision to end the InoculateIT Personal Edition
program effective May 15th, 2002.
* * * * * *Between now and May 15th, users of InoculateIT Personal Edition
will need to select a new Antivirus solution."

https://www1.my-etrust.com/services/ipe_support

[Paul Wilders]

Thanks for posting, discogail.

bad news for many...

regards.

paul

[javacool]

This IS sad news...

On the plus side however, there still is AVG Free...which seems to work pretty well in my tests...

[Paul Wilders]

{QUOTE-> This IS sad news...

On the plus side however, there still is AVG Free...which seems to work pretty well in my tests...

<-QUOTE}

Agreed, javacool * ;)

Nevertheless, AVG isn't free for all - a pitty *:'(

regards.

paul

[discogail]

"Computer Associates also advised that support would be continued at no cost for existing users of IPE who chose not to migrate."

So...technically...they never promised....they advised .

[javacool]

{QUOTE->

Agreed, javacool * ;)

Nevertheless, AVG isn't free for all - a pitty *:'(

regards.

paul
<-QUOTE}

Yes, that is unfortunate...I'm assuming it has something to do with the laws in some countries, and how they enforce license agreements...

[javacool]

{QUOTE-> "Computer Associates also advised that support would be continued at no cost for existing users of IPE who chose not to migrate."

So...technically...they never promised....they advised .
<-QUOTE}

True...

I never actually used the IPE product myself - I always used Norton on my PCs. I DID read about this though, and I do recall that wording.

Plus, I wondered how long the company would support a "dieing" product line that was, after all, FREE.

[Zhen-Xjell]

Good bye my trusted IPE.. that means I'll ditch AVG as well and move to one package: NOD32.

[javacool]

{QUOTE-> Good bye my trusted IPE.. that means I'll ditch AVG as well and move to one package: NOD32. <-QUOTE}

Not to get off-topic, but how is NOD32? I've heard a lot about it, but never seen anyone using it...

[Zhen-Xjell]

{QUOTE-> Not to get off-topic, but how is NOD32? I've heard a lot about it, but never seen anyone using it...
<-QUOTE}

You can have some type of indicator here:

Comparative Review Summary (http://www.virusbtn.com/100/vb100sum.html).

[Carlene]

{QUOTE->

You can have some type of indicator here:

Comparative Review Summary (http://www.virusbtn.com/100/vb100sum.html). <-QUOTE}


I knew something was up when the updates began getting downloaded from different server (or same with a diff name) via http instead of ftp, recently.

How's this one fare, it's not even in the list you mentioned *???

http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_index.htm

[Zhen-Xjell]

Yes AVG by Grisoft is mentioned in the comparative list. *It hasn't fared well at all.

[Ledendo]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but the Inoculate updates are available from the ca ftp server. I guess they won't change the whole update system and ez uses the same virus sigs, so maybe automatic update won't work, but maybe you can update IPE by using the ftp link?
And program/engine updates haven't been published since the IPE program moved to ez. So what changes?

P.S. Great forum, have been reading the post for quite some time now and decided to jump in :).

[Zhen-Xjell]

Welcome aboard. *I'm not sure, but your question is a valid one and should be pursued further. *Have you considered trying it?

[Ledendo]

well, actually that's the way (downloading from the ftp server i.e.) I have been updating IPE all the time, so I guess it will work unless they don't remove the update files from the pub section of the ca ftp-server.

[wizard]

Regarding the updates of anti virus software you have to take care about updating two parts: the signature files and the scan engine.

Take for example: Someone will code a macro virus for an office application. This new virus will be updated in the signature file but that does not mean that this virus will be found on an infected system. The anti virus software has also to update their scan engine to enable the software to scan the new office application file format. For example the file format of Excel is different from PowerPoint.

There are many ways anti virus software updates their scan engines. KAV includes scan engine updates along with the signature files. McAfee VirusScan needs a special file called SuperDat to update the scan engine. F-Prot (FP-Win) needs full updates of the whole program to update the scan engine.

When I remember correct InoculateIT PE needs also updates of the whole program to update the scan engine. Signature updates might work in the future but if new viruses come along that need an updated scan engine InoculateIT users will not be protected.

wizard

[Ledendo]

Wizard, yes, that's correct, IPE provides signatures updates only. But that's the case since they decided to cancel IPE and introduce the ez line of products, i.e. all users of IPE haven't had an engine update since.
I was just pointing out that - unless the ftp update is not provided any further - the announcement of ca seems to be another try to make ppl buy ez rather than a serious change of situation for current IPE users. But I may be wrong :).

[Carlene]

Ledendo, that is quite a creative thought, and I'll be trying that myself.
What again is the old ftp pull url, now that they've switched to http?

[Carlene]

{QUOTE-> Yes AVG by Grisoft is mentioned in the comparative list. *It hasn't fared well at all. <-QUOTE}


ooops again, missed it depite what I thot was close examination. For now, AVG I suppose is not a viable alternative.

Thanx

[Ledendo]

hmmm...let me see...aha..here it is :)

ftp://ftp.cai.com/pub/ipe/10.2/

As the files are in the pub section of the server, I guess it is ok to use them even if the IPE program is officially discontinued.

A different question is if it makes sense to use a AV with up-to-date signature files, but outdated engine...

[Carlene]

{QUOTE-> hmmm...let me see...aha..here it is :)

ftp://ftp.cai.com/pub/ipe/10.2/

As the files are in the pub section of the server, I guess it is ok to use them even if the IPE program is officially discontinued.

A different question is if it makes sense to use a AV with up-to-date signature files, but outdated engine... <-QUOTE}

The future shall reveal itself, after all -- it comes at you from the past.

[spy1]

Hi, Ledendo!

I think that question was already quite ably answered by wizard: "Take for example: Someone will code a macro virus for an office application. This new virus will be updated in the signature file but that does not mean that this virus will be found on an infected system. The anti virus software has also to update their scan engine to enable the software to scan the new office application file format. For example the file format of Excel is different from PowerPoint."

To me, that means that whether or not you can continue to get the virus defs, without an up-to-date scan engine, the AV program will be crippled as re: newer virii/trojans/whatever.

BTW, I don't really think that anyone's going to have to jump through hoops to continue to receive virus defs for IPE - I'm going to go look on my old computer (with IPE) and check, but I'm almost positive they state that you're still going to be able to update the defs in the regular way, it's just that the program itself will no longer be supported.

As I stated above, I believe that would be counter-productive for anyone to do, anyway, since the older scan engine won't be able to utilize the new defs properly. Pete

[Carlene]

Hi Ya spy1, nice to see you here.

I woke early, so had not had my coffee.

Ahh, my first cup now. Perhaps my IQ can now go back up to average! he he he

[spy1]

Good to see you here, Carlene! Welcome!

Yes, caffeine is definitely the fuel that drives the Internet! (Wow! That sounds like a good little sig! - *lol!)

Caffeine - The fuel that drives the Internet! Pete

[spy1]

Okay, on the old computer now, and I may be totally wrong about the availability of future sig updates for IPE after the cut-off date - judging by the screen that popped up first and what it said - words to the effect that the program itself was going to be totally unsupported. To me, the sound of that alone is that even def updates will no longer be provided for IPE, period.

Not a problem on this one, since IPE was my back-up (AVG primary).Pete

[Ledendo]

spy, that question was meant to be a rhethoric one...:)

My point is that
a) user should have left IPE in the past already because of the missing engine updates
b) if they decide(d) to stay they may after all be able to go on updating just the signatures, if they really wish,i.e.
c) using a decent AV program pays...even if you have to invest a few $$ . I trust in DrWeb. Only the best experience with it :).

[UNICRON]

I'd have to say, banking on a dead AV prog any longer to protect your systems may not be a great idea (especially one that was only so-so anyway)

It seems to me (and this is only personal opinion) that for the few bucks it takes for a top notch prog like Eset's NOD32 ($39 us) it is not worth gambling on any freeware we can get our hands on. I am a poor college student, but I don't have time to dilly-dally when it comes to security. If I get blown-out, and loose assignments I am working on, I just wasted a semester (and a few grand) Not worth it. It is illogical to spend more time attempting to save money than you could have made working. EG: when I work, I make between $15can and $65can per hour. So in a worst case senario, it takes about 3 hours of work time to afford NOD32 (probably less). If I spend 4 hours looking for and testing a free AV program, I spent $60 (or more) of my time doing something other than I'd rather be doing. That is counter-productive, and the program is no longer free. Not to mention I have no warrantee for my money.

I tried AGV, it sucked, plain and simple. It actually found a virus once, but it told me I had to upgrade to AGV pro to be able to remove it! Cha-ching now you are paying anyhow.

[spy1]

Interesting.

I hear a lot of people knocking AVG lately, see reports in anti-virus tests that AVG doesn't score well, etc., etc..

However, while I was using it for my primary AV on the old computer, it never failed to protect it, both from email-born malware or from numerous things floating around in NG's.

Never got infected with anything - it always warned me when something was trying to infect the computer and I just had it cancel whatever was wanting to happen. So I believe I'll quite happily leave AVG on the old computer - so far, it hasn't sucked at all, but it has blown-away all the virri it's so far been exposed to.

Of course, it never did find a virus already resident and have to do anything one way or the other with that (I used that other 'so-so' program IPE on the old computer prior to AVG), so I never knew it wouldn't clean one unless you had the pay version.

It's hard to remember sometimes, but there are people out here who actuallyneed a free - or nearly free, in the case of eTrust - *AV program. Pete

[Paul Wilders]

{QUOTE-> By John Leyden
Posted: 22/02/2002 at 12:10 GMT

Computer Associates (CA) is to cease providing updates for its free InoculateIT Personal Edition (IPE) anti-virus software on May 15.

CA stopped taking on new users for IPE in June last year and replaced it with the eTrust EZ Antivirus subscription service; at the time it advised users that support was to be continued at no cost for existing users of IPE who chose not to migrate. <-QUOTE}

read the full story here:

www.theregister.co.uk/content/56/24172.html

[Auscroc.]

This is weird.
Computer Associates have given the use of IPE, free of charge and it was widely accepted.

Now they are removing IPE and charging for the replacement (which is still IPE under a new name) we are planning to rip them off. I really cannot see this working. Computer Associates will just close the door to any IPE update request.

For those who survive on the net using free programs, I guess AVG will be an alternative to consider. It's interesting that AVG fairs poorly in tests, yet so many at various forums speak highly of it's abilities.

I will stay with AVG until I see some realtime evidence that it has failed. I understand where you are coming from Zhen X. Your concerns are different to mine.

:)