Updates - Microsoft Security Essentials

[RonH]

Having now used this software for some days, I note that 'auto updating' to the latest definitions is somewhat 'casual'
I use Vista and usually 'Sleep' for shut down/wakeup ... occasionally 'Restart' to clean up or as a request from a software change.
So, in order to try to keep up to date with MSE definitions I have made my Home Page (IE8) ...

http://www.microsoft.com/security/porta ... s/ADL.aspx

... which shows the latest definition. If my Update is not this, I do an update prior to anything else.

Maybe this is useful for others who are not 'techos' like me Or maybe its not worthwhile?
I would be interested in the views of others

[HansV]

I have set MSE to run a scan every night while I sleep, and to check for updates before the scan. So on average, I get a definition update once a day; on some days, there's an extra update (also automatically downloaded and installed).

[Hey Jude]

Me too at 2 a.m. also checked for updates before scan :-) Works like a charm :-)

[RonH]

How does one 'set a time' for MSE to do its thing
I'm not so keen on letting my pc be externally manipulated whilst I am snoring but I guess from what you do, I could set it to check for updates every time I wake it up? I use Vista.

[HansV]

There is a setting to update before a scheduled scan:

scan.png

(These are not my settings, it's a picture I got from Googling)
I don't think there is a setting to update at a scheduled time without a scan.

[RonH]

Hei Hans,
Thanks for your fast reply ... you must be always online
Yes I know this but it means that you have to arrange a scan every day ... no big deal I suppose. I just wondered if one could use 'Event Planner' to set the 'when'.

[JoeP]

If you don't like the way MSE definition updates are handled by default then check out MSE Update Utility [AddictiveTips Apps].

Joe

[RonH]

Thanks for that tip off Joe. Just for now, I will leave 'as is'. I note that a new version of MSE will be fully released sometime after beta and will hang on to see what changes are made.

[Sundog]

... every night while I sleep...

From the speed of your replies, I thought you NEVER slept.

[PaulB]

I have set MSE to run a scan every night while I sleep, and to check for updates before the scan.

Me too...

Tried setting a scan (and update) to run daily at 3:00 AM. Computer goes to sleep way before 3:00 AM and does not wake up at the designated time. A scan started manually goes well up until the sleep timer kicks in and puts the computer into hybrid sleep mode right in the middle of the scan. When I wake it up, the scan continues merrily on its way.

How do I reconcile my desire to conserve power (sleep state) and my need to perform unattended tasks?

[HansV]

I myself do go to sleep, but my computer doesn't - it's a desktop, not a laptop. The monitor and the hard disk are turned off after a while, but since the computer itself doesn't sleep, the hard disk is activated automatically when the scan starts.

[JoeP]

Tried setting a scan (and update) to run daily at 3:00 AM. Computer goes to sleep way before 3:00 AM and does not wake up at the designated time. A scan started manually goes well up until the sleep timer kicks in and puts the computer into hybrid sleep mode right in the middle of the scan. When I wake it up, the scan continues merrily on its way.

How do I reconcile my desire to conserve power (sleep state) and my need to perform unattended tasks?

If this is a scheduled task you need to change the task definition to allow it to wake up the PC.

Joe

[RonH]

You are all, oh so brave ... waking up your pc when you are asleep.
With all those intruders lurking around

[DaveA]

You are all, oh so brave ... waking up your pc when you are asleep.
With all those intruders lurking around

Those intruders are more likely to get in when you are on line than they will when you are a sleep. They come from websites and emails that you have open and leave a trail of crumbs for the intruder to follow.

[RonH]

Ahhhhh ...