Aged Cyber Aunt
How to: Update Mcafee Viruscan Data Files
All anti virus programs should have their data files updated every
so often. Ideally one should do it reasonably often - I aim to do
so every month - but it slips!! Here's how.
Open Internet Explorer Browser and go to: www.mcafee.com
Choose 'downloads' in the blue line near the top of the screen
On the next screen which lists a number of alternatives choose
'anti virus (dat) files'
On the next screen choose 'VirusScan 6.x and 7.x'
You then get a screen full of advice to upgrade to a later version,
which can update itself on line.
Go to the bottom of the page and click on 'click here for VirusScan
4.0.3 or higher etc'
then you reach the download page.
The current version is 4270.
It may be instaledl on your desktop as something like
'4270xdat.exe'.
Click on it and it will install the latest virus data files.
Or it may be put in another folder - such as 'My downloads" folder
if you have one.
Right click on start button, left click on explore, go to the 'My
downloads' folder, and run the 4270xdat.exe file by clicking on it.
Then ensure that you have enabled email scan, download scan, and
internet scan.
Do this by right clicking on the small red 'V' icon in the System
tray, which is the series of icons in the bottom right of your
screen.
Many purveyors of anti-virus software offer a system that when you
go on line the program will check for anti virus data file updates
- you can set this to check every week or such other time as is
convenient. Norton Anti Virus, Mcafee VirusScan and Pccillin are
examples. Although more expensive it saves you the bother of
remembering to upgrade the data files.
Email security.
You may get unsolicited email from people you do not know.
You may read the messages but:
Do not open attachments from people you do not know, or that do
not have your name in the address line.
This is especially important with Outlook Express and Outlook
which come with Windows 9x, because most virus programs target
those programs.
Better to use another program such as Netscape or Eudora. Both of
these are free and can be found on disks that come with magazines
such as PC Plus in UK or PCUser in Australia
Updated 15 January 2004