Antivirus Software Updates

With hundreds of new viruses discovered each month, it is critical to keep your antivirus software up to date. All the major vendors update their software regularly, typically several times per week. We have developed this page to assist our customers with updating their antivirus software. Please select your software vendor:

Pleas note that with all antivirus programs ITS recommends upgrading the program at least every other year, as the newer program versions will be able to look for newer types of viruses and pests/spyware. ITS recommends not using Norton Internet Security; instead use one of the programs listed here.

Norton AntiVirus

Symantec provides one year of virus updates, and then requires users to purchase an annual subscription. Norton AntiVirus has the ability to download virus definition updates automatically whenever the PC is connected to the Internet, and program updates may be downloaded via LiveUpdate. To check which virus definitions you have, run Norton AntiVirus.

Download and Install - LiveUpdate

Run Norton AntiVirus and click the LiveUpdate button. A wizard will walk you through the update process. To configure LiveUpdate to run automatically, look for the LiveUpdate settings under the Options button.

Download - Manual method

Download the latest updates from Symantec's web site.

For businesses without a fast Internet connection, we recommend downloading the updates from this site rather than using LiveUpdate since the update may be saved to your file server and installed on multiple PCs without re-downloading on each PC.

How to Install - Manual method

On all PCs, run the file from the server. The update will update the virus definitions and may prompt you to reboot.

Symantec Endpoint Security

Symantec Endpoint Security is the successor to Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition. It can be configured one of two ways, in a managed or unmanaged configuration.

Managed clients

This is the most common configuration, where a designated server downloads the virus definitions and the workstations obtain their settings and updates from the server. There is very little to do in this configuration as everything is automatic. You can open the Symantec Endpoint Protection client program to view the current virus definition status and click the LiveUpdate button to manually download updates.

Unmanaged clients

This configuration is typically used for networks without a Windows Server, or for laptops, etc. The software is normally configured by ITS to download updates automatically, directly from Symantec. To manually download updates, run Symantec Endpoint Protection and click the LiveUpdate button to start the wizard. To manually schedule updates, click the Change Settings menu item within the program, then under Client Management click Configure Settings.

McAfee VirusScan

McAfee VirusScan updates itself automatically much like Norton's LiveUpdate. You can manually check for updates by right clicking the "M" icon in your system tray (next to the clock) and selecting Updates. After the Security Center window appears click the Check Now button.