Fifth Generation Systems

Fifth Generation Systems was a computer security company founded October 1984 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana , United States by Bob Mitchell, Leroy Mitchell, Roger Ivey, and Bruce Ray. All four later left the company. Fifth Generation’s initial commercial product was FastBack , the first practical hard disk backup program for the IBM PC.

Software by Fifth Generation Systems includes:

  • CopyDoubler (Mac) – system utility for speeding up files
  • DiskDoubler (Mac) – on-the-fly hard drive compression software
  • DiskLock (Mac) – security software embedding access control and encryption [1]
  • FastBack (PC, Mac) – hard disk backup utility
  • Public Utilities (Mac) – software with disk optimization , repair, and data recovery functions, developed by Sentient Software [2] [3]
  • Pyro! (Mac) – screensaver that displayed fireworks among other user-selectable displays [4]
  • Search & Destroy (PC) – online and offline virus scanner for Windows and DOS, included in Novell DOS 7
  • Suitcase (Mac) – font management utility
  • Super Laser Spool and Super Spool (Mac) – print spoolers , acquired from Supermac Technology in 1990 [5]
  • Direct Access – a menu system software for DOS.

The company was acquired by Symantec on October 4, 1993 for US $ 53.8 million. [6]

References

  1. Jump up^ Schneier, Bruce (February 1993). “Data Guardians” . Macworld . Retrieved 2016-08-15 .
  2. Jump up^ Angus, Jeff (1993-02-08). “Public Utilities decreases data brownouts” . InfoWorld . Flight. 15 no. 6. IDG . p. 77 . Retrieved 2017-09-08 .
  3. Jump up^ Schneier, Bruce (1993-06-21). “Emergency Recovery Tools: Raising Data from the Dead” . MacWEEK . Retrieved 2017-09-08 .
  4. Jump up^ Lewis, Peter H. (1989-04-02). “THE EXECUTIVE COMPUTER, How to Extend a Monitor’s Life” . New York Times . Retrieved 2016-08-15 .
  5. Jump up^ “SUPERMAC SELLS SPOOLER SOFTWARE” . InfoWorld . Flight. 12 no. 31. 1990-07-30. p. 34 . Retrieved 2016-11-26 .
  6. Jump up^ “SYMC Quarterly Reports” . US Securities and Exchange Commission . Retrieved 2008-04-14 .

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