How to Update Your AntiVirus Software

When one talks about antivirus definition updates, one usually speaks in terms of Manual and Automatic updates. A manual update is performed by going to the antivirus vendor’s website, downloading the definitions, and then either installing them by running a program or just placing them in your antivirus software’s definition directory. Antivirus software that automatically updates would download new definitions automatically on a set schedule, once a day or once a week, for example. Most antivirus software is pretty straightforward when it comes to Automatic updating. They will almost always come preconfigured for automatic updates, so they are mostly “set and forget” sort of solutions.

This is no way to make money, however. Due to the nature of ever-evolving virus threats, virus definitions are outdated within days of their release, necessitating some sort of a constantly updating definition system. The major antivirus companies have turned antivirus protection from a software to a service. They do this by selling you “subscriptions” or “licenses” to use the software. This means that when your subscription is finished, you will stop getting updates. That is why it is so important to stay on top of your subscriptions and make sure they don’t run out.

From this comprehensive set of links, you should be able to find the updates to the program you run on your computer. Some of the products can only be updated from within the program itself, meaning that you can’t download the definitions manually. I’ve made a note of those that are only updated manually.

If I missed on that you would like me to find the update link for, then please let me know.

Anti Virus Updates

Name of Antivirus Product	Update Link
avast! Professional Edition	Click Here for the Update
AVG Anti-Virus	Click Here for the Update
AVIRA AntiVir Personal Edition	Click Here for the Update
BitDefender Professional Plus	Click Here for the Update
Dr.Web for Windows	Click Here for the Update
eScan Anti-Virus	Click Here for the Update
ESET NOD32 Anti-Virus	Only from within program*
Fortinet FortiClient	Only from within program*
F-Prot for Windows	Only from within program*
F-Secure Anti-Virus	Click Here for the Update
G DATA AntiVirusKit (AVK)	Only from within program*
Kaspersky Anti-Virus	Click Here for the Update
McAfee VirusScan	Click Here for the Update
Microsoft OneCare	Only from within program*
Norman Virus Control	Click Here for the Update
Symantec Norton Anti-Virus	Click Here for the Update
TrustPort Antivirus Workstation	Click Here for the Update