Symantec LiveUpdate

In order to make sure your antivirus solution is capable of detecting the latest malware threats, it needs to regularly connect to the Internet and download its so-called definitions files which help the tool identify viruses and Trojans, as well as block suspicious behavior. If you are using a Symantec security product and you do not want to manually download these files, you can use Symantec LiveUpdate.

This application automatically detects all the compatible applications and is able to update them without any additional user input. Briefly put, it scans your computer and it recognizes all the updates available for your products, then it installs them.

The benefit of using this tool is that you no longer need to remain connected to the Internet waiting for a new version to be released. You can start the connection right before you run Symantec LiveUpdate, allow the software to download the needed files from the Web, then disconnect the PC once more. This way, you can not only save money on your Internet bill, but you can also protect yourself against web threats.

On the downside, this application is not compatible with the latest Windows flavors, so you need to run it in Compatibility Mode if you are running Windows 7 or 8, and you want to enjoy its functions.

Also, since it has not been updated in a long time, this application might not support the latest editions of Symantec products, as this LiveUpdate tool is designed especially for Norton AntiVirus 2008 and earlier, Norton Internet Security 2008 and earlier, and Norton 360.

To sum it up, Symantec LiveUpdate is a very useful tool if you run older Windows version and use old Symantec utilities. If, on the other hand, you have already upgraded to the latest OS flavors, it is best to try other software for updating your security solutions.