Updating Your Virus Definitions

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Symantec Antivirus automatically updates its virus definition files for you whenever new definitions are available. Symantec offers these automatic updates weekly unless a severe virus outbreak warrants an off-schedule release. Daily updates are released by Symantec and can be installed manually.

Getting Manual Updates

1. Visit http://www.symantec.com and click the link titled "Download Virus Definitions" (under the Downloads header).
2. The download page will list the last LiveUpdate (automatic update) release date and the last Intelligent Update (manual update) release date.
3. Click the link to "Download Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater Only)
4. You'll be brough to a page with much of the same information except there is now the option to download. Be sure English is the selected language and click the "Download Updates" button.
5. You'll be presented with a list of all of the different versions you can download. The first link in the list is the one to download. The filename will begin with the date of release (IE: 20050531 for 2005 - May - 31).
6. Clicking the link will ask you if you'd like to Save the file. "Download the file to disk" and save it to your Desktop.
7. Once the download is complete, locate the file on your desktop. Remember that it starts with a datestamp of the date of release.
8. Double-click the file to install the newest virus definitions.

Checking the Date of your Virus Definitions

1. From the Start menu, select "All Programs" and locate the "Symantec Client Security" folder.
2. Click on Symantec AntiVirus to open the program.
3. The date of your current Virus definitions file will be listed in the bottom right. If you have just applied an update, it should match the release date given on Symantec's download website.

Forcing a LiveUpdate (Automatic Update)
If you believe that your virus definitions aren't up to date, try forcing Symantec to check.

1. From the Start menu, select "All Programs" and locate the "Symantec Client Security" folder.
2. Click on Symantec AntiVirus to open the program.
3. Click the LiveUpdate button to check with the Symantec AntiVirus servers for the newest virus definitions file.