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Fifth Generation Systems

Fifth Generation Systems, Inc., was a computer security company founded October 1984 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States by Robert Mitchell, Leroy Mitchell, Roger Ivey, and Bruce Ray. All four later left the company after it was acquired by Barry Bellue[1] who was accused by the founders of fraud and continued theft from company accounts for illegal personal use.[2] Fifth Generation's initial commercial product was FastBack, an early competitor to The Norton Backup from Symantec.[3]

Fifth Generation Systems software

The company was acquired by Symantec on October 4, 1993, for US$53.8 million.[11]

  • CopyDoubler (Mac) – system utility for speeding up file copies and managing file copy queues
  • DiskDoubler (Mac) – on-the-fly hard drive compression software
  • DiskLock (PC, Mac) – security software incorporating access control and encryption[4]
  • FastBack (PC, Mac) – hard disk backup utility
  • PowerStation (Mac)[5]
  • Public Utilities (Mac) – software with disk optimization, repair, and data recovery functions, developed by Sentient Software[6][7]
  • Pyro! (Mac) – screensaver that displayed fireworks among other user-selectable displays[8]
  • Search&Destroy (PC) – online and offline virus scanner for DOS and Windows, included in Novell DOS 7
  • Suitcase (Mac) – font management utility[9]
  • Super Laser Spool and Super Spool (Mac) – print spoolers, acquired from Supermac Technology in 1990[10]
  • Direct Access – a menu system software for DOS.

References

  1. Penny Font. News alert: Arrest warrants issued for Thinkstream’s Barry Bellue, Morris Alexander Baton Rouge Business Report, 2018-03-05, retrieved 2023-12-27^
  2. Lea Skene. Ex-Baton Rouge software company CEO accused of using employees' 401(k) funds for personal expenses The Advocate, 2018-03-05, retrieved 2023-12-27^
  3. Norton Backup 1.x WinWorld, retrieved 2023-12-27^
  4. Bruce Schneier. Data Guardians Macworld, February 1993, retrieved 2016-08-15^
  5. Bob LeVitus. Dr. Macintosh: Tips, Techniques and Advice on Mastering the Macintosh Addison-Wesley Publishing Company (retrieved via Google Books), 1989^
  6. Jeff Angus. Public Utilities decreases data brownouts InfoWorld, IDG, 1993-02-08, retrieved 2017-09-08^
  7. Bruce Schneier. Emergency Recovery Tools: Raising Data from the Dead MacWEEK, 1993-06-21, retrieved 2017-09-08^
  8. Lewis, Peter H. THE EXECUTIVE COMPUTER; How to Extend a Monitor's Life The New York Times, 1989-04-02, retrieved 2016-08-15^
  9. Extensis Rescuing Suitcase TidBITS, 1999-02-08, retrieved 2020-04-15^
  10. SUPERMAC SELLS SPOOLER SOFTWARE InfoWorld, 1990-07-30, retrieved 2016-11-26^
  11. Symantec, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Feb 13, 1995 secdatabase.com, retrieved May 14, 2018^