| Keeping computers free of viruses and other malware | | | | In 2007, NOD32 was named "Best Antivirus Product |
| is vital for all businesses, large and small. And no type | | | | of 2007" by independent research firm |
| of business is exempt from threats from cyberspace. | | | | AV-Comparatives. Being an undiscovered brand |
| Because of their line of work, software development | | | | makes NOD32 a better anti-virus product, Robertson |
| companies may be more vigilant than other types of | | | | says. "Hackers are getting the latest version of the |
| businesses, but they are no less vulnerable. | | | | market leaders to test against. Then they release their |
| Computer security is a primary concern of Norm | | | | malware onto the Internet. One of the advantages of |
| Olsen, founder and principal of Mentor Software Inc., a | | | | using a lesser known product is that hackers can't test |
| software development company in Lakewood, Colo. | | | | against all of them." Besides feeling safe from viruses, |
| Olsen specializes in map projection software for GIS | | | | Olsen notices how smoothly his laptop runs now. |
| (Geographic Information Systems) users, which allows | | | | A problem he had had with the previous anti-virus |
| them to represent the three-dimensional curved | | | | software was "swapping." That's the tendency for any |
| surface of the earth on a two-dimensional plane. | | | | operating system to switch programs to the hard disk |
| ONE MAN, ONE COMPUTER. | | | | when it runs low on RAM, which can happen when |
| A self-described "independent one-man band," Olsen | | | | running demanding software like Olsen does. "Once |
| runs his business on a single laptop computer. He puts | | | | you hit that threshold everything slows down to a |
| that machine through its paces with some heavy-duty | | | | crawl," he says. "NOD32's footprint is half of what I |
| programs -- Microsoft Visual Studio and AutoCAD -- | | | | had before both in terms of memory and computer |
| that have to be running at the same time in order for | | | | time." Updates are fast, too - five seconds compared |
| him to write and test his software. | | | | to a minute or two with his previous program, he says. |
| Olsen had been careful to keep his laptop protected | | | | That's another reason Robertson is a NOD32 |
| by anti-virus software because he needs it to be | | | | advocate. "Performance is very important to |
| secure and running like a top at all times. Any | | | | developers," he says. "If we're able to make a |
| downtime cuts into his bottom line. He wasn't happy | | | | developer's machine, which is highly resource intensive, |
| that his anti-virus package, which demanded 200 MB | | | | more efficient we can make anyone's machine more |
| of RAM, was gumming up the works at times. But | | | | efficient." |
| with his "if it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude, he was | | | | GOOD PRODUCT, GOOD PRICE, GOOD HEALTH |
| willing to put up with it, since it had been doing the job | | | | At $39.99 for the first year, $27.99 per year after that, |
| for more than a year. Until he downloaded the newest | | | | NOD32 costs about the same as the other anti-virus |
| update and the machine started crashing nonstop. | | | | programs Olsen has tried over the years. So he |
| Olsen didn't have time to call the vendor's customer | | | | doesn't measure return on investment in dollars but in |
| support and sit on hold. Instead he called his friend and | | | | qualitative terms. "I am more productive, because it |
| colleague Monte Robertson, whose company | | | | uses half the resources that any other brand did," he |
| Software Security Solutions (SSS) is in the same | | | | says. He also doesn't worry about his machine |
| building as Mentor Software. Robertson directed him to | | | | crashing. Although he depends exclusively on his |
| the SSS web site and suggested downloading NOD32. | | | | laptop, that's not for lack of other PCs in his office. |
| SAFER, FASTER, BETTER | | | | One is gathering dust due to damage inflicted by an |
| Olsen took Robertson's advice and now is protected | | | | anti-virus program, he says. "I got a hard disk error in |
| by NOD32, a program developed by Bratislava, | | | | the middle of the registry so Windows won't come up |
| Slovakia-based ESET. Unlike most anti-virus software, | | | | anymore. When I get a few hours I'll reinstall the |
| NOD32's technology enables it to protect against new | | | | operating system." |
| and unknown viruses as well as those already in | | | | Olsen says it's quality software like NOD32 that keeps |
| circulation. Therefore there's no "risk window" like | | | | him in good health, too. When he responded to a |
| exists for users waiting for their vendor to provide a | | | | recent blood drive he was turned away. "My blood |
| new fix for a new virus. | | | | pressure was too low to give blood. |