Introduction to TBAV for Windows 95
Introducing TBAV for Windows 95

This chapter of the ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus user manual provides an introduction to TBAV for Windows 95. It will briefly point out the functionality of TBAV for Windows 95 by explaining the five modules which are part of TBAV for Windows 95. The second section of this chapter will inform you about the product strategy followed by TBAV for Windows 95. The three sections that follow next contain information concerning the registration of ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus for Windows 95 and the license agreement.

If you wish to contact ESaSS B.V., the company that develops the ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus utilities, or any other international ThunderBYTE Agent, you will find the addresses in the last section of this chapter.

Please choose one of the sections listed next.

Understanding TBAV for Windows 95

Understanding TBAV Strategy

License Agreement Information

How to contact ThunderBYTE


Understanding TBAV for Windows 95

TBAV for Windows 95 is a comprehensive anti-virus software utility for the Microsoft Windows 95 environment. The purpose of TBAV for Windows 95 is to prevent computer viruses from attacking the precious data and programs on your computer.

TBAV for Windows 95 consists of four modules:

1.	The Setup Module. This module collects information about the files on your computer system. If present, all other TBAV modules use this information to check the integrity of the software or validate programs. The DOS utilities also use this information, not only for the purposes already mentioned, but also to clean infected files.

2.	The Scan Module. This module checks your computer programs for virus infections. The scan module not only makes use of special signatures to find and identify existing viruses, but it also has a special heuristic mode that detects unknown viruses. This heuristic mode, or generic virus detection, is a technique that makes it possible to detect about 90% of all viruses by searching for suspicious instruction sequences rather than using any signature. For that purpose the Scan module contains a real disassembler and code analyzer. Another feature of the Scan module is the integrity checking it performs when it finds the integrity information files generated by the Setup module. Integrity checking means that the Scan module checks wether every scanned file matches the information calculated by the Setup module. If a virus infects a file, the integrity information no longer matches the now changed file, and the Scan module informs you of this.

3.	The File I/O Monitor Module. If  this module is active, the monitor checks each copied, de-archived, downloaded, and renamed file for all known, unknown, and future viruses. With this module active, you can be confident that no virus will infect your computer software. The File I/O Monitor module makes use of the Scan module to perform the virus check. In this way you can be sure that the virus check is as accurate as possible, since the File I/O Monitor module fully exploits all the features of the Scan module.

4.	The Background Scanning Module. This module enables you to configure TBAV for Windows 95 to scan for viruses after a specified period of time. This features makes use of the idle time-slices of the Windows 95 operating system, which prevents an overall performance decline.


Understanding TBAV Strategy

It is extremely important to understand that TBAV for Windows 95 detects all sorts of viruses, but it can only remove macro-viruses. TBAV for Windows 95 does not remove bootsector viruses nor does it remove ordinary file viruses such as MtE or Jerusalem. TBAV for Windows 95 is however able to immunize diskettes, which means that it can replace the bootsector of a floppy disk (the area where a possible bootsector virus is stored) with a fresh and clean bootsector. For removal (or cleaning) of ordinary file viruses we highly recommended that you boot the infected computer system using a clean diskette containing the DOS system files and a virus scanning and cleaning program.

Why did we take this approach? First, image that you had access only to a Windows-based virus scanning and cleaning program. What happens if you discover a virus? You would have to boot and then load Windows 95 from a single floppy disk. This is obviously an impossible task.

The second reason is the inherent problem of using a Windows-based virus cleaning program. Suppose one or more Windows 95 system files become infected by some virus. Ah, you say, Ill grab my super deluxe Windows-based virus cleaning program and the virus is gone in no-time! But wait! You are forgetting that the virus will probably infect each application that runs. So, if you execute your fancy virus cleaning program, you end up with an infected anti-virus program.

So, the ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus for Windows 95 strategy provides you with an easy-to-use and fast virus scanner, both in DOS and Windows 95. Additionally, TBAV for Windows 95 has options built in that ensure that no virus will ever infect the files on your computers fixed disk or become active. And finally, TBAV for DOS provides you with a reliable virus cleaning program, something that is not practical within the Windows environment.


How to contact ESaSS B.V.

About ESaSS B.V.

Founded by Robin Bijland and Frans Veldman in 1988, ESaSS BV. began as a research and development company developing various information security solutions for the IBM compatible computer market. By the end of 1989, ESaSS specialized in solutions beating back the increasing growth of computer viruses.

In 1990, the company introduced a final and unique hardware solution against known and future computer viruses called ThunderBYTE PC Immunizer Card. Due to the experience and know how in anti-virus research, ESaSS became one of world's leading virus research centres. After a successful introduction of ThunderBYTE on the European continent ESaSS became member of CARO and EICAR, two well respected Anti-Virus organizations. ESaSS then started making a software solution called ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities, using the know-how incorporated in the PC Immunizer Card.

In 1991, ESaSS became also connected to several International E-mail facilities like FidoNet and InterNet where other famous anti-virus researchers exchanged their knowledge. Using these facilities and the membership of CARO, EICAR and the U.S. based N.C.S.A. positioned ESaSS at the top of Anti-Virus research companies in the World. At this moment ESaSS has access to all necessary information worldwide which enables ESaSS to keep its security products up to date.

In 1992, ESaSS introduced a new weapon against the ever increasing growth of sophisticated viruses. A universal detection and clean protocol called HEURISTIC SCANNING. With this new scan protocol the ESaSS Research Team set a new world standard in combatting unknown and future viruses by software.

ESaSS has for a long time offered the proven final hardware solution ThunderBYTE PC Immunizer and the new ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities software developed by the ESaSS Research Team. Both solutions were successfully distributed in 26 different countries, mainly targeted on the European continent. In 1993 ESaSS B.V. extended the existing distribution network to the Pacific Rim and U.S.A..

Because many viruses in company networks enter via a floppy diskette, a diskette authorization system was developed in 1993, called ThunderBYTE Fence. This systems secures valuable company data from copying and readingtowards diskettes and prevents the use of diskettes which are not authorized.

In 1996, ESaSS developed a macroscanner and macrocleaning utility which detects the new generation of computerviruses: Macroviruses. ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities is one of the few products which recognizes the OLE2 structure in Microsoft products. Extensive research and anticipation on future developments ensures ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities constant advantage to its competitors. With a rapidly increasing number of partners, distributors and dealers in over 45 countries, the ThunderBYTE organization is preparing itself for the next challenge in the datasecurity business.

With the increase of various security threats in the highly automized world, the demand for a complete offer of security products has convinced ESaSS to bundle strength with other providers of computer security products. In the first quarter of 1997, ESaSS will therefore introduce a complete new product range to the world. This will give ESaSS B.V. the opportunity to share its know-how and acquire new knowledge to further enhance the high level of its data security products.

How to contact ESaSS B.V.

If you have any questions, you can contact your local distributor or write directly to ESaSS B.V.. The address of ESaSS B.V. is stated below. If you use electronic mail, you can contact ESaSS B.V. via CompuServe or via Internet.

	ESaSS B.V. P.O. Box 1380 6501 BJ  Nijmegen The Netherlands Voice phone #: Fax #: Support BBS #: CompuServe: Email: Internet:	+31 (0)24 64 88 555 +31 (0)24 64 50 899 +31 (0)59 13 82 011 100140,3046 support@thunderbyte.nl http://www.thunderbyte.nl/


How to contact ThunderBYTE

About ThunderBYTE

ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities represents the next generation of anti-virus detection and cleaning software against known and unknown computer viruses -- complete with 5 different security levels to help protect against viruses: signature and heuristic based scanning technology, generic decryption using real-code emulation, integrity checking plus active monitoring.

Created in Europe to combat the growing threat of intelligent and sophisticated viruses around the world, ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities have been the leaders in anti-virus computer software for several years, clearly acclaimed as the world's fastest scanner.  Using a combination of traditional and proprietary heuristic "seek-and-destroy" techniques to ferret out even the newest and stealthiest viruses, trojans, and logic bombs, these utilities offer an enhanced level of anti-virus protection at speeds that are unsurpassed in the PC arena.

ThunderBYTE Sales, Support and Upgrades

For power users there is no compromise; only the best will do. In the world of anti-virus utilities, one product stands head and shoulders above the pack when it comes to power and speed: the ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities. Within ThunderBYTE Anti-Virus Utilities we integrated both the world's fastest and most advanced virus detection engine.

ThunderBYTE is supported world-wide by a dedicated professional team of anti-virus researchers, technical support specialists and highly trained, specifically authorized agents. Electronic support is provided 24 hours a day via CompuServe in the ThunderBYTE Forum (GO TBYTE), WUGNET/WINUTIL Forum (GO WINUTIL) and on the Windows News Forum (GO WINNEWS).

You can also get in touch with ThunderBYTE via our internet WEB site. Our URL address is: http://www.thunderbyte.nl/. You will find the latest software updates at this WEB site.

ThunderBYTE International Agents

For a comprehensive list of ThunderBYTE International Agents, please select the List of Agents topic in the Documentation menu.


License Agreement Information

The license agreement information can be read by using the License Agreement topic in the Documentation menu.