Distance Education - How To Update Your Virus Scan

McAfee VirusScan

New viruses are created and distributed every day. Virus protection software such as McAfee VirusScan, works with virus definition files to detect and remove viruses. To be effective, the virus definitions must be updated frequently. McAfee VirusScan uses a facility called AutoUpdate to download and install virus definition files directly over the internet.

To Schedule Automatic Virus Definition Updates

• Start McAfee VirusScan by double-clicking on the McAfee Console icon in the system tray. The icon looks like a magnifying glass with a small clock on the upper right hand side located in the system tray, i.e. the group of small icons located by default in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
• Double-click "AutoUpdate".
• Click on the tab called "Schedule".
• Click the check box beside "Enable".
• Select "Weekly" as the frequency, and then select a random day and time.
• Choose a time your computer is likely to be on.

To Update Your Virus Definitions On Demand

Important

Prior to downloading .DAT file updates, please take a moment to verify the version and scan engine of your current McAfee retail VirusScan product.

• To verify the scan engine of your McAfee product, open the McAfee VirusScan program from the "Start > Programs > McAfee VirusScan
• Click on Help in the Menu
• Click on About to learn the version and scan engine of your current McAfee product.
• Go to the McAfee website to download the current dat file for your product. (http://download.mcafee.com/updates/updates.asp)

Norton AntiVirus

New viruses are created and distributed every day. Virus protection software such as Norton Anti Virus, works with virus definition files to detect and remove viruses. To be effective, the virus definitions must be updated frequently. Norton AntiVirus uses a facility called LiveUpdate to download and install virus definition files directly over the internet.

You can update your virus definitions on demand or schedule your system to retrieve updates automatically at specific times. By default Norton AntiVirus updates its virus definitions on the first system restart after being installed. After that, the virus definitions are updated every Friday at 8 p.m. If your computer is not on at that time, it will update when you turn the computer on.

To schedule automatic virus definition updates

• Start Norton AntiVirus by double-clicking on the Norton AntiVirus icon in the system tray. This icon looks like a gold shield and is located in the system tray, i.e., the group of small icons located by default in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
• Select "Schedule Updates" from the File menu.
• Verify that the "Enable schedule automatic updates" box is checked.
• Click the "Schedule" button.
• Select "Weekly" as the frequency, and then select a random day and time.
• Choose a time your computer is likely to be on.

To update your virus definitions on demand

You can also update your virus definitions on demand at any time.

• Start Norton Antivirus by double-clicking on the Norton Antivirus icon in the system tray. This icon looks like a gold shield and is located in the system tray, i.e., the group of small icons located by default in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
• Click on the "Live Update" button.
• When the Virus Protection Update window appears, be sure that "Internet" is selected for "How to connect to a LiveUpdate server", and then press the "Next" button.
• Click on the "Finish" button.