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 Due to the nature of ever-evolving virus threats, virus definitions are outdated within days of their release, necessitating some sort of a constantly updating definition system.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

Virus Protection

Today I'll be giving a few tips on how to prevent virus infections on your computer.

The best defense against infections are up to date anti-virus software. If you don't have an anti-virus program, you can download one for free.

Avast Home Edition offers their home version for free for non-commercial & home use and includes ANTI-SPYWARE protection, certified by the West Coast Labs Checkmark process, and ANTI-ROOTKIT detection based on the best-in class GMER technology.




You can see below the different resident scanners for instant Messaging, internet mail, Network Shield, and Microsoft Outlook.



And here are the rest of the resident scanners, P2P (peer to peer), Standard and Web Shield.





AntiVir Personal is free anti-virus that constantly and rapidly scans your computer for malicious programs such as viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, hoaxes, worms, dialers etc. Monitors every action executed by the user or the operating system and reacts promptly when a malicious program is detected. It detects and removes more than 150,000 viruses and includes 7 different resident shields which protect a user's PC, with minimal impact on system performance.


Here are some of the categories Antivir will scan for you:




And this is what the scanner interface looks like.





AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is trusted antivirus and antispyware protection for Windows (Xp, Vista and Windows 7)free for home use. It includes a new LinkScanner® Active Surf-Shield which checks web pages for threats at the only time that matters – when you're about to click that link.




And here is is during a scan:




If you already have anti-virus software, make sure it has updated virus definitions (this is the database of known virus infections used to scan your computer). Most programs have an option to automatically update and scan on a daily or weekly basis and give you the ability to set your scan for a time when the computer is not in use (like the middle of the night). Keeping your anti-virus updated and scanning on a regular basis is very important.


Also, be sure to install Windows Updates whenever they are available. These updates can be downloaded for free from Microsoft and will patch known security holes in your software, as well as adding new features. Windows Update can be configured to install updates automatically, ensuring that a computer is always up-to-date and not vulnerable to computer worms and other malware.

This is what Windows Update looks like if you use Windows XP. It can be reached by going to the Microsoft Windows Update website



If you use Windows Vista or Windows 7, the web site is no longer used for selecting and downloading updates. Instead, enter the control panel and select the Windows Update icon.



Here you can check for updates, configure automatic updates, and see if there are any extras available for your operating system.




Although these tools provide good protection against most average virus infections, some infections are severe and may require professional service.