MS Security Essentials

[willythecat]

Used to use Avast antivirus which l was quite happy with but it seemed to be getting rather resource hungry.
Changed to MS Security Essentials after reading a post from EvilFantasy, and it does seem to do what it says on the tin. Things seems a lot faster and it also has a very simple interface which is so easy to use.
Under Avast, and throughout the day, messages would pop up to say that the programs database has been updated.
Doesn't appear so for MSE (well not for me anyway). I have to manually update it each time. Am l missing the point somewhere?
Have read their sites notes and have made sure that no old virus software remains. Have reinstalled MSE but it still requires updates manually.
The ONLY other program that runs alongside is Spywareblaster.
Am l doing something wrong?

[willythecat]

Oh *censored*, 23 hits and no answers to date.
Not to worry though, it's now been thoroughly answered via my alternative site, bleeping computers.
Sorry no one here could answer my question, but never mind.
Regards
WTC

[soybean]

... for MSE ...  I have to manually update it each time. Am l missing the point somewhere?

Would mind sharing what you learned about the updating?  Can it be configured to update automatically?

[willythecat]

Hello soybean,
Rightly or wrongly, this is what l was told but it sort of makes sense.....

Microsoft Security Essentials auto-updates once every 24 hours and there is no setting within MSE to change the scheduled time or frequency. As such, you can always manually download the latest Microsoft Security Essentials updates via the update tab.

Announcement -  Quote from MS
Microsoft has confirmed an issue with Microsoft Security Essentials that can occur when some PCs are regularly offline for extended periods and are frequently toggled between sleep/hibernate and active mode. In some cases, these machines may be delayed in receiving their regularly scheduled signature updates.
Microsoft is aware of the problem and is working on a solution. In the interim, we recommend that users who are not regularly online and who frequently sleep/hibernate their machines reboot or manually update their signatures at least weekly to ensure they have the latest threat definitions downloaded.

Mmmm? Still think l'll stick with MSE for now, but knowing that l can always revert back to Avast. It seems Avast now have a new Version out (V5) which some people are having problems with and others are not. Will see how things progress.
Regards
WTC

[patio]

I have zero issues with the new Avast ...installed on both Vista and Win7

[soybean]

willythecat, thanks for that reply.  It is informative. 

I'm using Avast 5.0 with Win 7 and like it better than Avast 4.8.  But, I may try WSE on with Win XP.  And, since I use Sleep and/or Hibernation, it's good to know about the issue you explained.

[evilfantasy]

Doesn't appear so for MSE (well not for me anyway). I have to manually update it each time. Am l missing the point somewhere?

You have to have Windows Updated turned on to automatic to get regular daily updates with MSE. Doesn't matter if the computer has been turned off or asleep as it will "call home" 10 minutes after it wakes up or is turned on. It all happens in the background and they are released every 24 hours (or so). I've seen that it is now every 12 hours but can't confirm that. That's as much as most of the other free AV's. Avast is the only one I know of that updates, or checks for updates, multiple times a day.

You can check here for solutions to fix any update issues.

MSE will also check 10 minutes or so after boot or wake from sleep if there is a network connection *and* the current updates are greater than 24 hours old.
It will *not* perform this catch up check if the current definitions were installed within the past 24 hours, but will wait until the next scheduled check time.

Full description here. MSE Definitions/Signatures Update FAQ

Microsoft has confirmed an issue with Microsoft Security Essentials that can occur when some PCs are regularly offline for extended periods and are frequently toggled between sleep/hibernate and active mode.  In some cases, these machines may be delayed in receiving their regularly scheduled signature updates.

That was in November. I think they have fixed it by now.


Edit: The Wiki says updates are released 3 times a day.

Updates are published three times a day to Microsoft Update.