To help clarify this issue Symantec allows anyone to download their virus
definitions directly from their FTP site ftp.symantec.com or the web page
front end http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/defs.download.html at any time
for free. You must manually install these definitions which means you
double click on the definitions file and delete it after it has
successfully installed the new definitions.
The reason the download is larger when you manually download the file is
because it comes with the <installer> as well as any current software
<program> updates. It must also work with multiple versions and this
functionality is not required in a live update because Live Update knows
which program it is updating and what has already been updated.
Once you install Norton Anti Virus you are entitled to use the <Live
Update> feature for free for one year after which you must pay a small
annual fee to use it to obtain the newest definitions but NOT to get
program updates. Live Update has these advantages.....
Live update is easy to use ..you just tell it to start and follow the
prompts to update your virus definitions as well as the program itself.
You can schedule it to run at a certain time which is nice if you use a DSL
or Cable modem connection and your computer is on 24 hours a day. For
example you can set it up to check every day at 3AM.
I personally do a combination of the two. My Server which is on 24/7 is
scheduled to check every day but my other computers I update manually by
downloading the definitions update to a directory on the server weekly and
updating the clients from there.
Mark Rode
The NoSpin Group
>I would not have minded paying the $5, but given the download was twice
>the size (almost), and I was "only" giving up automatic scheduling
>(and the computer is generally off anyway...) it was a "trade-off" I was
>willing to make... Rick Glazier
>
> > > I am surprised that you could not get the virus update from the
> > > Symantec site, registered or not.
> > > Michael
>
> > I am registered and could not get virus update until I paid five dollar
> > renewal fee.
> > Demetri Kolokotronis
"Hold No Punches.." Rode brings you great shareware/freeware
programs with his honest opinions in this weekly column.
http://nospin.com/rode
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