University Computer Help Desk

Virus definition (DAT) files keep McAfee VirusScan up to date so it can detect and remove viruses.

Scheduled AutoUpdate Runs Daily

By default, McAfee VirusScan is set up to automatically update its virus definitions (DAT) file everyday at 5:00pm. This configuration means that under normal circumstances, McAfee VirusScan will always be up to date.

Run AutoUpdate On Demand

You can force McAfee VirusScan to update its virus definitions (DAT) file at any time, even if it is configured to automatically update daily.

To run AutoUpdate on demand, do the following:

1. Right-click on the McAfee VirusScan icon in your system tray (located in the lower-right corner of your desktop, next to your clock).
2. From the pop-up menu, select Update Now....
3. A window will appear that says, "Update in Progress."
4. The central area of the window displays its update progress. When VirusScan is done updating, it will report, "Update Finished."
5. Click Close.

Manually Updating McAfee VirusScan

Rather than using McAfee VirusScan's AutoUpdate feature, you can download the latest SuperDAT file from McAfee's website. The SuperDAT includes the latest virus definitions, as well as the latest scan engine.

To manually download and install the latest SuperDAT, do the following:

1. Go to the McAfee Security Updates web page.
2. If asked to agree to the McAfee terms of service, click I Agree.
3. Download the latest SuperDAT file. This file is named sdatXXXX.exe (where XXXX is a set of numbers).
4. When the file has finished downloading, double-click it to launch the McAfee SuperDAT wizard.
5. Click Next.
6. The McAfee SuperDAT wizard will install the latest virus definitions and scan engine.