Updates? We don't need no stinkin' updates!

Rob Rosenberger, Vmyths co-founder
Monday, 27 April 1998 PC WORLD REPORTER Brian McWilliams wrote an interesting story about firms which charge a subscription for virus signature updates. McWilliams quotes a Symantec spokesman who says Norton AntiVirus will switch to subscriptions due in part to "new accounting regulations that require software companies to charge a fee for product updates." Network Associates and other firms will still offer virus signature updates at no extra cost... I guess they didn't get a copy of those "new accounting regulations." McWilliams also filed an intriguing audio report about Look Software. They regularly post updates, but their virus signatures apparently haven't changed in terms of file size or total detectable viruses for at least six months. A Look spokesman spoke to McWilliams about it — but "abruptly ended" the interview when pressed for details.