Windows Security Center and antivirus updates

My update notifications for my antivirus program is goofing up. Someone told
me that Windows Security Center will notify me if av definitions are older
than 7 days. Is this true? I have always had the security center service
disabled. If I turn it on again, can I have it set only to come into the
System Tray and notify me if something is wrong?
--
Paul

MS Office Pro 2003
XP Home
Dell Inspiron 1501

Windows Security Center just monitors the fact that you have an up to date
Anti virus program installed.
The Anti Virus program you are using should be set to update
itself....fairly frequently.
If your AV definitions are 7 days old you have left the back door open for
any virus created in that time frame to get in...that number by the way is
in the 1000's......
If you update AV regularly then Security Center will have nothing to notify
you about.

peter

--
DISCLAIMER: If you find a posting or message from me
offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it.
If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to
me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate... ;-)


"Paul" <Paul@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:29A589ED-6C12-4CE1-B02F-E8AD4FB78184@microsoft.com...
> My update notifications for my antivirus program is goofing up. Someone
> told
> me that Windows Security Center will notify me if av definitions are older
> than 7 days. Is this true? I have always had the security center service
> disabled. If I turn it on again, can I have it set only to come into the
> System Tray and notify me if something is wrong?
> --
> Paul
>
> MS Office Pro 2003
> XP Home
> Dell Inspiron 1501

IF (1) (Windows) Security Center and your AV app are both working properly
AND (2) your anti-virus application is not configured as the default
Security Center (e.g., NAV & other Norton apps), yes, that's how it works.

If Security Center is enabled AND everything's working properly, you should
only see its icon in Notification Area (AKA systray) if there's a problem.

Manage Your Computer's Security Settings in One Place with Security Center
in Windows XP Service Pack 2:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u..._wscintro.mspx

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/


Paul wrote:
> My update notifications for my antivirus program is goofing up. Someone
> told
> me that Windows Security Center will notify me if av definitions are older
> than 7 days. Is this true? I have always had the security center service
> disabled. If I turn it on again, can I have it set only to come into the
> System Tray and notify me if something is wrong?

Great--that answers the question, PA Bear.
--
Paul

MS Office Pro 2003
XP Home
Dell Inspiron 1501


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> IF (1) (Windows) Security Center and your AV app are both working properly
> AND (2) your anti-virus application is not configured as the default
> Security Center (e.g., NAV & other Norton apps), yes, that's how it works.
>
> If Security Center is enabled AND everything's working properly, you should
> only see its icon in Notification Area (AKA systray) if there's a problem.
>
> Manage Your Computer's Security Settings in One Place with Security Center
> in Windows XP Service Pack 2:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u..._wscintro.mspx
>
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Thanks for your feedback.

Paul wrote:
> Great--that answers the question, PA Bear.
>
>> IF (1) (Windows) Security Center and your AV app are both working
>> properly
>> AND (2) your anti-virus application is not configured as the default
>> Security Center (e.g., NAV & other Norton apps), yes, that's how it
>> works.
>>
>> If Security Center is enabled AND everything's working properly, you
>> should
>> only see its icon in Notification Area (AKA systray) if there's a
>> problem.
>>
>> Manage Your Computer's Security Settings in One Place with Security
>> Center
>> in Windows XP Service Pack 2:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u..._wscintro.mspx
>>
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.net/