'Melissa' Virus Triggers Rapid Growth in Virus Detection Software Sales;
Virus Warnings Send PC Users Shopping for Protection
RESTON, Va., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Retail sales of virus detection software
increased more than 67 percent during the week of the "Melissa" computer virus scare,
according to PC Data. The public announcement warning PC users of the virus spreading
via infected emails motivated many consumers to seek assistance from virus detection
software such as Norton Antivirus by Symantec (SYMC), and VirusScan and Dr. Solomon's
Anti-Virus by Network Associates (NETA).
Unit sales of Symantec's Norton Antivirus increased 78 percent and Network Associates'
two virus detection titles, VirusScan and Dr. Solomon's Anti- Virus, were up 51 percent
during the week of March 28 to April 3, 1999.
"The increased use of virus detection products is one of few positive impacts of the
Melissa virus," said Ann Stephens, President of PC Data Inc. "Virus detection software is
currently installed on only 35 percent of PCs in the US and Canada. Melissa provided a
wake-up call that the Internet may increasingly become a conduit for fast-growing,
destructive viruses."
Based in Reston, VA, PC Data has been providing point-of-sale data since 1991 and has
become the only comprehensive source of software and hardware sales information. PC Data
supplies sales information to more than 800 software and hardware firms, which account
for nearly 95 percent of total computer industry sales. The company's latest initiative
includes @PCData, an Internet monitoring service. In addition to tracking software and
hardware sales through retailers, PC Data also tracks sales through educational
resellers, corporate resellers and distributors.
/CONTACT: Ann Stephens, President of PC Data, 703-435-1025 ext. 113/
12:03 EDT
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