Daily definition updates August 1-August 15

[Jeff Williams [MSFT]]

You may have already seen our blog posting on this but I wanted to echo it
here since it may raise some questions.
http://blogs.technet.com/antimalware/archive/2006/08/01/444384.aspx

Over the next two weeks we will be testing a new definition update process
and, as part of the test, we will be delivering signatures daily Monday
through Friday through August 15. After the 15th updates will return to the
current schedule of twice weekly.

If you have feedback on this change you can post it in follow up to this
message or email it to (e-mail address removed).

Jeff

 

[Guest]

Thank you Jeff for the heads up.

 

[Robin]

Windows update did not popup for an update of the new one dated July 30. I
just noticed on another computer the date and definitions changed all by
itself.
Windows Defender Version: 1.1.1347.0
Engine Version: 1.1.1508.0

Definition Version: 1.14.1639.16 datted July 30, 2006



this happened on all 3 computers running WD

robin

 

[Robin]

btw I have Windows Update set to "notify me" so I should have seen the
yellow shield sitting there like it normally does when WD wants to update.
robin

 

[ANONYMOUS]

Daily updates is a good idea but some of us also likes a full update
file at least once a week for machines which do not have fast internet
connections such as home computers.

Best regards,

 

[Guest]

Jeff,
You guys really shouldn't do this until you get rid of the "trigger" for
System Restore Points. I understand that there's not much you can do about
Windows Update but at least find away that we can check for updates thru
Defender and NOT GET A 50 MEG SYSTEM RESTORE POINT just because we downloaded
a 250KB delta update.

You do realize that currently both these methods of updating,
"Windows/Microsoft Updates" and the "Defender-check for updatses" , are
creating System Restore Points in addition to all the other extra ones
Defender has been making???

I for one do not have enough space reserved in System Restore for your 14
Day, 14 System Restore Point, 700Mb test !!!

There for I must Opt-out of this part of the Beta Test

?:-(
Tim
Geek w/o Portfolio

 

[Guest]

Engel,
Respectfully,
Day of release is NOT a heads up!!!
We should have been warned about this Way in Advance!
It shows great disrespect. I think it is a bad idea to do this till we can
find away to update with out creating System Restore Points for minor
updates. I would have said this days ago had I been given a real "Head Up".

?:-(
Tim
Geek w/o Portfolio
Who is getting really pissed w/ the way this beta is being handled!

Thank you Jeff for the heads up.

 

[Guest]

You may have already seen our blog posting on this but I wanted to echo it
here since it may raise some questions.


Over the next two weeks we will be testing a new definition update process
and, as part of the test, we will be delivering signatures daily Monday
through Friday through August 15. After the 15th updates will return to the
current schedule of twice weekly.

If you have feedback on this change you can post it in follow up to this
message or email it to (e-mail address removed).

Jeff

Jeff

I`m sure we will all do our best to evaluate and thank you for the H.U.!! However, right now there are those (after more than a a year), who are just coming to terms with a consistent and stable, twice weekly sig update. Now, you guys are looking to do something paramount Monday thru Friday. What a bummer!! Only hope the cumbersome update methods employed can cope. You wouldn`t be attempting to upstage the Ewido update process would you? Now, there`s a process !! So smooth and unabtrusive. Can you tell me why the Monday thru Friday process should be any different to say: Monday AND Friday - other than the way the server delivers our updates and the demands made. Time is getting tight for you guys to make this a viable product integration with Vista. I can only hope the RTM date does not prove as disappionting as the completion date/s which have consistently plagued the Wembley Stadium. Wouldn`t expect you `Amis` to understand this as you play football with your hands

Thanks

Stu

 

[JRosenfeld]

You may have already seen our blog posting on this but I wanted to
echo it here since it may raise some questions.
http://blogs.technet.com/antimalware/archive/2006/08/01/444384.aspx

Over the next two weeks we will be testing a new definition update
process and, as part of the test, we will be delivering signatures
daily Monday through Friday through August 15. After the 15th
updates will return to the current schedule of twice weekly.

If you have feedback on this change you can post it in follow up to
this message or email it to (e-mail address removed).

Jeff

Are these updates cumulative or sequential. i.e. if I miss some days will
that mess up my database? Or would I be offered all the ones I missed on a
daily basis?
I can't guarantee that I will be at my PC every day (and I switch off when
I'm away, also I don't use automatic updates).

I also echo the concerns of others about restore points. I have disabled
WD's own restore points in the regstry, but the Microsoft Update installer
does create one each time.

 

[Pat Willener]

Thanks! I have really been looking forward to more frequent updates, and
I hope that the final release product will get daily updates, as all my
other anti-malware tools do.

 

[Guest]

Personally, I don't mind daily updates (I don't use restore points) EXCEPT
for the fact that Windows Defender uses Windows Update to download the
definition updates.
Because I don't want Windows to update itself without me knowing about it, I
will be getting download and install warnings for Windows Defender every day
for the next two weeks. Please seperate Windows updates from defenition
updates in the next version, because I don't mind Defender updating itself
without my help.
Besides, and I don't know whether this is already possible (without SMS
server), I think many sysadmins don't mind their users updating Defender, but
like like to have control over the Windows updates.

 

[Guest]

You guys really shouldn't do this until you get rid of the "trigger" for
System Restore Points. I understand that there's not much you can do about
Windows Update but at least find away that we can check for updates thru
Defender and NOT GET A 50 MEG SYSTEM RESTORE POINT just because we downloaded
a 250KB delta update.

I must say that I agree with Tim, and the sudden introduction of daily
updates like this gives me the willies. I've only just managed to get
Defender running relatively trouble-free without scattering restore points
everywhere, and I wonder what effect this new change will have.

Also - I have automatic updates set to notify only. I then manually download
and install as soon as conveniant aferwards. What will happen if I forget,
and miss a day?

There are so many niggling issues with Defender in its present state that
this daily update test seems like putting the cart before the horse, to me.

 

[Guest]

Are these updates cumulative or sequential. i.e. if I miss some days will
that mess up my database? Or would I be offered all the ones I missed on a
daily basis?
I can't guarantee that I will be at my PC every day (and I switch off when
I'm away, also I don't use automatic updates).

I have a similar concern. Can we have a clear answer to this one, please? (I
really wish you guys were NOT doing this.)

 

[Guest]

********
Jeff,
I have WD on 4 PC's and the update process works well on all. Currently I
have the Windows update set to "notify" and the WD button set to "check for
updated definitions before scanning".

They behavior of this configuration reveals the yellow shield that updates
are available and in some cases I have downloaded the Defender update
immediately. If I do not dowload/install on demand the update will be
downloaded/installed just prior to the scheduled WD scan.

I think frequent updates is the way to go given the nature of the problems
MS is attempting to control - adware, malware etc.

Since the software is in a beta form I think MS has wide flexibility to
experiment wherever and whenever they decide to do so.

Keeping the public informed is a nice thing to do but really not required in
the beta status.

Best wishes.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

Keep an eye on the URL's as Engel and others post them--the July 29 def
update was a Delta.
(This goes by the MPAS- name near the start of the URL.) As far as we can
tell:

-d = Delta (small, builds on the previous Full, but successive deltas are
inclusive--you just need the Full and the newest Delta.)
-f = Full--capable of updating to a given level starting from 1..0.0 as in a
new install.

-fe = Full, with engine update--i.e. changes the engine version--the middle
of the three version numbers in Help, About.



--

 

[Guest]

Keep an eye on the URL's as Engel and others post them--the July 29 def
update was a Delta.
(This goes by the MPAS- name near the start of the URL.) As far as we can
tell:

-d = Delta (small, builds on the previous Full, but successive deltas are
inclusive--you just need the Full and the newest Delta.)
-f = Full--capable of updating to a given level starting from 1..0.0 as in a
new install.

-fe = Full, with engine update--i.e. changes the engine version--the middle
of the three version numbers in Help, About.

I'm sorry Bill, but I don't really understand enough of that to know exactly
what I'm supposed to do if I miss a few days. I need to know how this relates
to the little shield that pops up in the notification area, or to what will
happen if I visit the Windows update site. If I miss a few days and then
visit the updates site, will I be offered everything that's needed? (If not,
then I might as well uninstall Defender now and forget it, as I'll never be
able to find my way through the tangle.)

I really, really could have done without this additional complication,
Microsoft guys!!!

 

[Guest]

Since the software is in a beta form I think MS has wide flexibility to
experiment wherever and whenever they decide to do so.

Keeping the public informed is a nice thing to do but really not required in
the beta status.

How many millions of people are already using Defender? Is it 20-odd
million? I suspect many of them, like me, will have bought computers with
Defender (or, earlier) MSAS already installed. (My local computer shop sends
out all its computers with Defender installed and strongly recommended.)

I think those 20-odd million people (including me) would suggest that
Microsoft's 'flexibility' needs to accommodate the reality of the already
extensive use of the program; and that keeping its users informed is actually
a necessary, not merely a polite, thing to do.

 

[Guest]

This is exactly why they don't ordinarily warn about such a test during a beta.

There's really no need for you to know or be concerned about when you 'need'
to do something, because if it's working right, it shouldn't matter. The
update process itself should detect whatever is currently in place on your PC
and decide based on this whether you need a delta, full or full plus delta
update. There's no reason for you to be involved because there's absolutely
nothing you can normally do to control the process, short of disconnect your
PC from the Internet.

In this case, however, they have asked those reading either here or in the
blog to watch for any issues. If you see what appears to be truly 'broken'
operation, especially error messages, they'd like to know. That's not
implying you need to actively check anything, though checking the Defender
GUI to see if you've received the daily update probably isn't a bad idea, but
error messages either during normal PC usage or found later in the Event Logs
is all that's really needed.

Hopefully, you'll have nothing significant to report.

Bitman

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

Yes--you don't need to know anything about that stuff--if you apply what is
offered on the day you see the offer, you will be up to date.

The only possible mixups are for people updating manually by downloading the
updates and carrying them to a machine which cannot directly receive them
for various reasons.

--

 

[Guest]

What Alan said !!!

(trans. I agree completely)

?:-/
n.b. My Smiley Face will not be smiling for a while.


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