Keep Symantec AntiVirus protection current on your Macintosh computer

Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition relies on up-to-date information in its virus definitions files to detect and eliminate viruses. One of the most common reasons virus problems occur is that users do not update the virus definitions files after installation.

Symantec updates virus definitions files weekly through LiveUpdate and also whenever a major virus threat emerges. Symantec's Intelligent Updater service is more cumbersome to use than LiveUpdate, but it updates virus definition files on a daily basis. See the Symantec Security Response Website for details about Intelligent Updater.

C&IT recommends that you update virus definitions at least once a week using LiveUpdate. Scheduling LiveUpdate to run automatically is the easiest way not to forget (see the scheduling instructions that follow). In addition, always update virus definitions immediately when you hear about new viruses in the news (see the immediate update instructions at the bottom of this page).

Scheduling virus protection updates with LiveUpdate

Your computer must be running and have access to the Internet when an update runs. By default LiveUpdate is scheduled to run automatically once a week. However, you can change the frequency and time to fit your needs.

To set LiveUpdate schedule options

  1. Open the Norton AntiVirus application (Hard drive—>Applications —> Symantec Solutions).
  2. Click Norton AntiVirus.
  3. In the Norton AntiVirus main window, click Schedule on the left.
  4. In the Symantec Scheduler window:
    • select the default event and click Edit at the bottom of the window
      OR
    • click New and then click Product Update.
  5. Fill in the Edit (or Add) Update Task box as follows:

    Enter a name for the task: Update Schedule
    Choose a product to update: Select from the pull-down list, such as Norton AntiVirus
    Set a frequency: Select from the pull-down list. Then indicate when and at what time you want the update to occur.

  6. Click Save and then close the application's windows.

To update virus protection immediately

  1. In the AntiVirus main window, click LiveUpdate on the left.
  2. In the LiveUpdate dialog box, click Update Everything Now.

Support

If you need help using Symantec AntiVirus, contact the C&IT Help Desk by phone, (313) 577-4778, or e-mail to helpdesk@wayne.edu.