How To Update Your Anti-Virus Program (Definitions)

    Viruses are Evil, plain and simple.  They get into our address books, our system files, and our programs and cause a lot of problems.  New viruses appear every day, but if our Anti-Virus program is not set to update regularly, we may not be protected against new viruses.

    Each virus program, such as McAfee, Norton, or others, often have explicit instructions on how to update them.  It is best to set your Anti-Virus program to automatically update. Below are some manual steps for updating. Always remember that Anti-Virus programs should be updated on a weekly basis.

McAfee VirusScan Update:

1.  Go to our Web Site at http://northcentralextension.osu.edu/
2.  Next, click on the Technology Support option
3.  Click on How-To Update my Anti-Virus program
4.  Then Click the link below to go to the McAfee update site:  http://www.networkassociates.com/us/downloads/updates/
5.  Next, click on the SuperDAT file for v4x (Engine + DAT) option, located 2 lines below the Product bar {Note: This is also used for v7x of McAfee VirusScan}
6.  We then come to a 'SuperDAT v1.6 Files' screen.  To download the update, click sdat####.exe (i.e. sdat4285.exe) to the right of Windows-Intel {Note: This will prompt
    us to save the update on the computer}
7.  Save the update file to the C:\Windows\Temp folder on the computer.
8.  After we have downloaded the update, exit the web browser we are using (i.e. Netscape or Internet Explorer) and close out of ALL programs.
9.  Next click Start / Run...
10.  Then click Browse to search for the update file we just downloaded.
11. When we find the sdat####.exe (i.e. sdat4285.exe) file in the C:\Windows\Temp folder, highlight it and click Open.
12. Finally click OK to run the update {Note: if the update asks us to re-start our computer, please do so}

Norton Live Update:

1.  First click Start / Programs / Norton AntiVirus / LiveUpdate - Norton Antivirus to open the program.
2.  Next, click Live Update to run the update program.  The program will check which Norton products need updated.
3.  Click Next.
4a.  On this screen, Live Update determines whether our AntiVirus License has expired.  If it HAS NOT EXPIRED, follow the instructions within the Live Update program to finish updating the Norton AntiVirus program.
4b.  If the Norton AntiVirus program HAS EXPIRED, the program will ask us if we want to "subscribe for virus definition updates now?".
5a.  If you want to purchase an updated license and subscribe for virus definition updates, click on Yes, tell me how and follow the steps within the Live Update program to subscribe and finish updating the program.
5b.  If you do not want to purchase an updated license, it is recommended to contact a qualified computer technician, so they can help us update our computer with the most recent version of McAfee VirusScan or other Anti-Virus program for complete virus protection.