Alec Ryncavage's USB drive could be revolutionary

Oct. 25--Alec Ryncavage is not your typical 14-year-old high school freshman.

He wears a suit and tie, and he has a business with an office. He also invented and is now marketing his own computer product, for which he got a patent.

The Plymouth resident shares office space with his uncle's insurance business in Kingston. His business is A.R. Enterprises.

His computer product is VirusRem, a USB drive with a virus-removal program.

"It's a revolutionary idea," the Wyoming Valley West High School student said.

He expects it to be available for purchase in November and December for $20 to $25.

"For right now, we're only looking to get rid of the virus that's already on the computer. Save you the trip to the computer store, save you the trip for $80 or whatnot, and actually make something happen," he said. "Now we have another product coming out that works hand in hand with our USB drive, so everything comes together like a hub and spoke business model. You have your one product here and we're just going to branch off from there."

He is trying to raise money on Kickstarter to market VirusRem.

Alec said his age has not been a barrier in business and computer technology.

"You are who you associate with," he said. "So when I'm always making phone calls to different companies and trying to get contacts, they may laugh because I'm 14, but it never really held me back. I'm here now, so hopefully I can move forward."

His interest in computer technology began as young boy and his motivation is coming up with programs others will enjoy.

"What the consumer sees and the public sees isn't actually what's there," he said. "It's called front-end and back-end programming that what some guy sitting behind a computer is making is what you are enjoying. So the fact that I could be there making that so you could enjoy it, making the code, writing the code, really taking the hours to put in something you like for someone else to enjoy, that's what really motivates me."

Work in computer technology can get frustrating at times, he said.

"I always try to stay humble, so every time that something does come up and maybe I don't like or anything like that, you just try to take a step back, breathe. I have a mentor I call. I have people that I choose to consult with ... they're there because they help me get through those tough times," Alec said.

His biggest frustration is working on "creating something new" that is "already there and you just haven't found it," he said.

"It's always hard when you are trying to get patents and trademarks because from a business aspect, it's costly," Alec said. "So when you mess up, it costs you a lot of money."

It's hard for Alec to say what is his favorite part of computer technology.

"Everything in the field is constantly changing," he said. "So probably network security is what I love because it's relatively new, it's always changing. So it all goes back to what motivates me, because the reason why I do everything is I like it to begin with, and with cyber security, you are trying to protect the people who are enjoying your work."

When he isn't working on computer technology or cutting a business deal, Alec spends time running on the high school cross country track team.

His parents are Danielle and David Ryncavage Sr. He has a brother, David Jr., 25, and sister: Alexa, 23.

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