With the new fiscal year beginning October 1 [1997], the Department of Defense has switched vendors for anti-virus software. All of DOD is switching from products by IBM and Norman Data Defense Systems to products from McAfee Associates Inc. and Symantec Corporation.
In what promises to be a benefit for military and civil service employees, the license includes home as well as office use. According to DISA, this was done to reduce incidents of virus infiltration from home computers owned by DOD employees.
McAfee produces VirusScan (used by the USAF several years ago) for Windows 3.x and 95 and NT, NetShield, GroupShield, and WebShield products. Symantec offers Norton Anti-Virus for Windows 3.x and 95 and NT, Symantec Anti-Virus for Macintosh, and other products.
The new products provide coverage for Macs, Digital Equipment Corporation’s Alpha and UNIX, groupware products, Java, Active X, firewalls, and email. The previous software programs did not offer such a wide range of protection.
The license also allows contractors to use the anti-virus programs on DoD-owned computers. However, it does not cover contractors using company-owned computers at their workplace. Also, it does not cover DOD contractors at their homes.
The 30th Communications Squadron has reported that early implementers noted that McAfee’s VirusScan was not as user-friendly as the IBM program. Also, they recommend not using the "ScreenScan" option as it has caused a number of problems with computers on base.
The DOD site license for the IBMAV and Norman software expired on September 30, 1997. DOD users may continue to use the IBMAV software after the expiration date; however, virus signature updates will no longer be available. Since so many new viruses are written each month, it is critical that users keep their files up-to-date. For that reason, DISA has recommended all DOD users obtain, install, and begin using the new software as soon as possible.
The software has been posted on the DISA ASSIST homepage to facilitate downloading by authorized users. Point your browser to http://afcert.csap.af.mil or http://www.assist.mil/Virus/avirus.html.
If you have additional questions or need help, contact your unit’s Computer Systems Security Office (CSSO). Contractors with questions should contact their Administrative Contracting Officers (ACO) or Carol May, 30 CONS/LGCWI, 805-606-1190.
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