LiveUpdate and Your Definitions File

The team at Symantec continually works to track new virus and security risk information (e.g., spyware, adware). As new threats are detected, information about the virus or risk is stored as a "signature". These "signatures" are then saved in a definitions file. The definitions file is a list of the details needed to detect, remove and repair the effects of known viruses and risks. When Symantec AntiVirus scans your machine for possible threats, it is searching for symptoms that match one of the signatures in its definitions file.

Symantec updates the definitions files on the Security Response web site daily. These definitions files are made available at least weekly for automatic download via the LiveUpdate utility. It is up to you to keep the definitions file on your computer up to date. The installation of Symantec AntiVirus is automatically configured to run LiveUpdate on a daily basis.

Note: LiveUpdate requires Internet access.