Managed Antivirus Threat Definitions - Update Mechanisms

When new malware threats are discovered in the wild they are analyzed by antivirus laboratories and an updated version of the virus signature database released containing the information required to detect these threats. As threats constantly emerge and antivirus laboratories develop new detection methods there can be frequent virus signature definition database releases.

To ensure your computer is fully protected, Managed Antivirus automatically updates to the latest virus signature on a schedule configured in the Protection Policy.

There may be times when it is necessary to manually update the threat definitions. For example, before running an on-demand scan to ensure any newly identified malware threats are detected. Manual definition updates can be actioned directly from the dashboard.

As of Managed Antivirus Bitdefender engine v6 there is no mechanism to update threat definitions on the device itself.

Dashboard initiated updates are available on devices running the Windows Agent and Mac Agent 3.2.0. or later.

Update Threat Definitions via the dashboard:

  1. Select the target device(s) in the North-pane - Shift and left-click for a range or Control and left-click for specific devices
  2. Right-click on one of the selection - or from the Servers, Workstations or Devices drop-down
  3. Select Managed Antivirus > Update Threat Definitions

The update option is only available when the selection uses the same antivirus engine.

The update command is sent to the Agent during the next upload cycle. Once the update command is actioned the Antivirus Update Check - Managed Antivirus reruns and subsequently reports the discovered threat definition on the dashboard.

Antivirus Update Check - Managed Antivirus: Automatic Threat Definition Update

There may be occasions where the threat definitions have not updated prior to the Daily Safety Checks running, for example where the device was switched off overnight when the latest definitions were released and the Checks have run before the next scheduled update has taken place.

The Antivirus Update Check - Managed Antivirus automatically forces an update of threat definitions if the Check fails.

When the Check discovers out-of date threat definitions, the Monitoring Agent instructs Managed Antivirus to update its threat definitions. When in this state the Check uploads along with the other Daily Safety Checks and is displayed on the Dashboard as a soft failure (yellow tick) with no failure notification sent.

Once the threat definition update is complete, the Antivirus Update Check - Managed Antivirus re-runs. Where the threat definitions have updated the Check is reported as passed, otherwise the Check is reported as failed with an Alert sent (if configured).

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