Desktop Workstation Recommendations

for Recommended McAfee A/V Settings

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This document was last modified on 11/25/2003.

Start by Viewing Desktop

On your Desktop, look on your "task bar". There should be two McAfee Virus products running: the VShield and the Virus Scan Console.

The AutoUpdate Feature

McAfee has "Auto-Update" capabilities. This means that if a new computer virus has been created, McAfee will automatically go to the McAfee web site and retrieve a new vaccine to kill the virus. To modify the Auto-Update feature double click on the VirusScan Console task.

You will get the following. Note the "AutoUpgrade" and the "AutoUpdate" features. Let's first focus on the "AutoUpdate" feature. This feature lets McAfee automatically go to the McAfee web site, download and update your current VShield Virus kills.

1. To "AutoUpdate" your McAfee, double click on AutoUpdate. You will get the following Task Properties menu screen.



2. Note the Configure option. Single click on it.
3. You will see that there are two update sites listed. Note that the status of these sites is "Enabled". DO NOT modify the status of these sites.



4. What you may do is single click on the Update now option. This will go to both sites and look for the latest virus inoculation files. You should know that the update process is done for you automatically. To verify that the software is "AutoUpdating" close the Automatic Update window and do the following.
5. From your task bar double click on the VirusScan Console icon (as identified at the beginning of this section).

   

6. You will get the following dialog box. Single click on the Schedule option.



7. The next screen shows your autoupdate schedule which will allow you to verify that it has been set up properly.
   

The AutoUpgrade Feature

The "AutoUpgrade" feature for McAfee does exactly that. It will go to the defined web site(s) and automatically upgrade the version of VShield running on your Machine.

1. To modify and/or setup this feature, double click on "AutoUpgrade". You will get the Task Properties menu screen.
2. "AutoUpdate" your McAfee, double click on AutoUpdate. You will get the following dialog box:



3. Note the Configure option. Single click on it.
4. You will get the the "Automatic Upgrade" menu screen. There is only one upgrade site listed as opposed to the two sites for "Automatic Update". This is because McAfee is licensed to Georgia Tech and upgrades will be supplied directly to Georgia Tech and then distributed via an OIT server. Do not modify this setting. You may single click on the Upgrade now option.

   

If you want to see/modify the frequency with which VShield is being upgraded, double click on the VirusScan Console icon in your task bar.

Double click on "AutoUpgrade". You will get the Task Properties menu screen. Single click on the Schedule tab.

Note the settings for the "AutoUpgrade" feature. The Monthly setting is fine.

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