Norton Anti-virus-Unable to Live Update (Virus Def) Error/Java 1.4.2

It is issues like these that make me glad I do not run an antivirus program on my Mac. Not to seem trite, but exactly what is the need to update virus definitions so often since for all intents and purposes there are no viruses out there that affect OS X?

I know there is a huge gulf between those of us in my camp and those who are in the camp running antivirus software. But philosophically, I question the value of having to tinker so much with an otherwise well-working system just to be able to download "new" virus definitions when there really aren't any viruses out there. It makes me think of that old saying, first do no harm.

I'll be first in line to install an antivirus program when someone can demonstrate to me that it is necessary.

Just my opinion,
Steve M.

2. re: message from Symantec. What version of NAV
are you using with 10.4.7? NAV 10 or NAV9?

Im using 10.1.1 ergo there latest version for many months now. A similar problem happen one other time adn had to do a manual update but everything was fine after that using liveupdate.

• If you're running NAV 10 for Mac, then I suspect
they've answered your question incorrectly, i.e. sent
you a NAV 9 answer but you're using NAV 10.
LiveUpdate in NAV 10 may also be Java-based, but
it should work with Tiger: it does on my Macs
running Tiger.Good luck!

I understand Smoke and just sent them a repy email stating the same.

I will hold off on going to OS 10.4.8 untill I resolve this problem as there is nothing on my end that has changed i.e. it is something on there end is what I believe is causing the problem.

Thanks again.
Ran

Not to seem
trite, but exactly what is the need to update virus
definitions so often since for all intents and
purposes there are no viruses out there that affect
OS X?

Steve, Symantec does Macs udpates once a week.

They do it for PC's much more often for obvious( to me ) reasons.

I choose to have NAV and stay regular( current ) with those updated virus definitions for at least two reasons that come to mind.

1) I do not pass on older and most current PC viruses to others PC users.
2) I lessen my chances of catching any mac, detrimental viruses, should they occur adn of passing them on to other mac users.

The bottom line is simply personal choice within my finiancial abilites.

Choice to have mac AV program
Choice to have AV program that also screens for PC viruses
Choice to stay current as possible with those programs

It is financially costly( $79 initial fee) and $15 a year upadate fee but I feel personal( web citizenship ) responbility to take as many of those bugs out of the universe as I can without jepordizing my own personal fiscal responsiblities i.e. If can afford AV( with my credit card ) I will tho to tell the truth I really I cant afford AV programs.

Personal choices for various reasons.

Ran

Ran,

I respect your choice and admire your intentions and do not mean to imply otherwise.

Out of curiosity, how often does NAV find any viruses on your system?

Regards,
Steve M.

Hi, Steve.

You wrote:

"I question the value of having to tinker so much with an otherwise well-working system just to be able to download "new" virus definitions when there really aren't any viruses out there."

There are threats other than viruses to Mac OS X. See my "Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware" FAQ for details. Anti-virus solutions, like NAV, are designed to address more than simply viruses, which are just one specific type of security threat.

While some believe that anti-virus solutions are not required on a Mac, I feel that's ignoring the fact that threats are emerging and that security exposures continue to be found, albeit eventually closed, in Mac OS X, as in any other operating system. Even Apple now recommends that one should "check for viruses."

I've personally received Word documents from personnel at Apple that contained Macro viruses. 😉

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

---
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

I respect your choice and admire your intentions and
do not mean to imply otherwise.

Understood Steve.

Out of curiosity, how often does NAV find any viruses
on your system?

I've had NAV for about 2.7 years now. Got in what I got this eMac. I looke in quarentine and only found one virus there from may 2005. I remmerber there being more in there a year or so ago but I also seem to remember unlocking them and then deleting them.

My ISProvider also catches virsues for me. Seems to be they( and my NAV ) caught many more in past years than this year( 2006 ).

So, I don't really have a clear and accurate answer for you. Sorry

Ran

Point taken, Dr. Smoke. I appreciate your input. I will still remain a nonuser of antivirus software for the time being.

Regards,
Steve M.

Thanks Ran. I shall remain without antivirus software for the present. I feel that the costs, both in money and time and aggravation, of using AV software far outweighs the "benefits" it offers. I will keep an open mind on the topic and will be ready to install an AV program when I feel the need warrants it.

Regards,
Steve M.

Hi, Steve.

Likewise, I appreciate your feedback. As an additional data point, there is another way in which anti-virus solutions can be very useful: see my "Finding corrupted files" FAQ.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

---
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

"Received:
0 bytes of 598.5k", but "Update for", "File" are
empty, unlike before where you know what files are
being updated for.
I don't really know how should I go from here...
Thanks and cheers

941, after 6 to 10 email back and forths with Symantec I have decided to do their suggestion of uninstall and then reinstall. Bummer since I have slow internet connection.

Ran

1. re: LiveUpdate

Based on your report, I ran LiveUpdate this morning and encountered the

Updating error
There was an error performing the update.

alert twice in a row. It behaved as I might expect from a server timeout issue: a long wait trying to start the download before timing out and displaying the alert. None of the log files indicated anything concerning LiveUpdate or the timeout.

However, I tried LiveUpdate again this afternoon and it worked correctly. In my case, at least, it seems to have simply been an issue with the Symantec servers being busy.

2. re: Support page loading issue.

I received some feedback on the issue with the Symantec support home page, or pages linked from such, not loading correctly, hanging the browser. The feedback was of the "we're looking into your report" variety.

However, I tried LiveUpdate again this afternoon and
it worked correctly. In my case, at least, it seems
to have simply been an issue with the Symantec
servers being busy.

Thanks Smoke, but I have continued to try fro two weeks now and again tonight after runnig Onyx of all scripts, repar premissions and optimizing system. Stil same message.

I received some feedback on the issue with the
Symantec support home page, or pages linked from
such, not loading correctly, hanging the browser.
The feedback was of the "we're looking into your
report" variety.

Well i one email they sent me this follwoing URL link. But when I click on it nothing siginifcant happens but except I get the spinng colored beach ball when ever the cursor is over the desktop.

I can quit all my open applications and still the disc keeps spiinng. Cursor works fine tho. Hoever I did notice that this time once I disconnected the collored disc whent away.

Smoke, do you have a link to Symantecs manual Liveupdate of "virus dfeinitons" ? I did have to use that once many months, a year or so ago maybe even wehn I had NAV 9 I forget.

They sent me this URL http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/download/pages/US-NMC.html

link to do manula virus update but the stuff on this page is reinstalling or update install version of NAV 10. from Jan 2006. Ive been using 10.1.1. for long time now.

Im sure I have already done that as Ive been using NAV since last year. Anyway here is that URL.
http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/download/pages/US-NMC.html

Thanks for any more time and effor ton your part. Im not going to 10.8 tillI get this figured out.

Ran