PC-cillin (PCIL) is software designed to ferret out and eliminate all viruses already in the computer when PCIL is installed and to prevent the incursion of viruses from any type of future computer input. The software requires a 386 (or better) chip, 16M RAM (recommended), and 12M of hard drive for Windows 95 operation. It comes with a suitable user's manual and is installed from a CD. It also comes with a complete satisfaction, 90 day, money-back guarantee and free, lifetime, on-line, virus-pattern updates.

There are a number of basic features that an anti-virus program should contain. First of course is that the software should be able to detect and eradicate any virus that can be encountered. This is a tall order that involves two aspects: how complete is the complement of virus patterns which come with the software and how up-gradable is the software?

On the first aspect, it's difficult to estimate how PCIL fares. The vendor seems to be substantially involved in the business of virus types and of removal techniques. For example, he is aware of the most prevalent and insidious virus now running about, Macro viruses. These infect word-processing documents and spread sheets and require a special anti-virus processing technique which PCIL contains. On the second aspect, the vendor's free update program has decent credibility that the anti-virus protection of the software will remain current; in fact, PCIL has a pop-up window that alerts a user when the current version is 90 days out of date and needs an update. The vendor maintains a virus lab, publishes an on-line Virus News, and if one has an un-cleanable file, it can be sent to his so-called Virus Doctor, for analysis and response.

Another feature that anti-virus software needs is an easy ability to activate or deactivate it. At least 99% of the time I use my computer I don't need to have an anti-virus program running. Installation of PCIL automatically starts the anti-virus software working when Windows boots up. However, PCIL allows deactivation from its main menu, conserving time and memory.

Installation of PCIL starts with a virus check of the computer, and if a virus is found, normal installation stops and a rather involved procedure must be followed to eradicate the preexisting viruses before further action. Installations from the CD for Windows 95 was straightforward. However, my first two tries were unsuccessful because of a problem I generated. During the installation, there is a pause at which the installation allows an operator to choose whether or not PCIL will overwrite a Windows file, oleaut32.dll. On my first two installation tries, I chose not to overwrite the Windows file because I didn't understand what this would do to my system. The two installations did go to completion and in each case the computer seemed to be functioning normally. But subsequent PCIL activation caused a GPF error which then required rebooting the computer. When I allowed the overwrite to take place, both PCIL and the computer worked OK.

Use of PCIL is straightforward. One can designate automatic monitoring of 10 inputs: Modem Connection, Dial-Up Connection, Internet Connection, E-mail Connection, Floppy Access, CD-ROM Access, Network Access, Shared Folder, DOS Prompt, and MacroTrap Enabled. Then, scanning all or any drive is straightforward from PCIL's main menu. The software keeps a record of scanning operations.

I scanned my drives and ... no viruses!!