Keeping Your Symantec AntiVirus Definitions Up-to-date (Windows 2000/XP)

To keep your computer and your information free from new virus threats, Symantec makes updated virus definitions available from its web site on an ongoing and as-needed basis. Using Symantec's LiveUpdate feature, you can automatically install these updated virus definitions on your computer thereby keeping your antivirus software up-to-date. There are two ways to use LiveUpdate to get the updated virus definitions files. You can configure LiveUpdate to run automatically or you can run it manually. ISC recommends that you configure LiveUpdate to run automatically. However, in case of a virus emergency and you need to get the most recent virus definition file, ISC recommends that you run LiveUpdate manually. ISC provides information about new and existing viruses on its Virus Alerts page.

Important: For an update to occur, your computer must be turned on and connected to the Internet by an office, ResNet, or modem connection.

How to Run LiveUpdate Automatically

You can schedule LiveUpdate to run at regular intervals. In this mode, LiveUpdate automatically connects to Symantec's web server, retrieves the updated files, and downloads and installs them on your computer. Having the updated virus definition files means that your computer will be scanned for the most recent viruses, without the updated files your computer is not protected from new viruses.

To schedule LiveUpdate to run automatically, do the following:

1. Open Symantec AntiVirus by right-clicking the yellow Shield icon that's located in the Windows' system tray which is on the far right end of your task bar. Then, click Open Symantec AntiVirus... .
2. From the Configure Menu, select File System Auto-Protect. The File System Auto-Protect window displays.
3. In the File System Auto-Protect window, do the following:
   1. Ensure that Enable Auto-Protect (Enabled) is checked.
   2. In the File Types section, ensure that the All Types radio button is selected.
4. From the File Menu, select Schedule Updates... .The Schedule Virus Definitions Updates window displays.
5. Ensure that Enable scheduled automatic updates is checked, and then click the Schedule button... .
6. Identify how often and the time that you want LiveUpdate to run, and click OK.
7. Click OK to close each window.
8. Click Exit to quit Symantec AntiVirus.

How to Run LiveUpdate on Demand

To run LiveUpdate anytime manually, do the following:

1. Open Symantec AntiVirus by right-clicking the yellow Shield icon that's located in the Windows' system tray which is on the far right end of your task bar. Then, click on Open Symantec AntiVirus... .
2. From the Configure Menu, select File System Auto-Protect. The File System Auto-Protect window displays.
3. In the File System Auto-Protect window, do the following
   1. Ensure that Enable Auto-Protect (Enabled) is checked.
   2. In the File Types section, ensure that the All Types radio button is selected.
   3. Click the OK button. The Symantec AntiVirus main window displays.
4. In the main window, click the LiveUpdate button and then follow the on-screen directions to update to the most current virus protection.
5. Click Finish when the update is complete.
6. Click Exit to quit Symantec AntiVirus.