Windows 7: MSE not updating beyond definition version 1.143.376.0

Hello Lady Fitzgerald,

If you're interested in adding a scheduled task to get MSE Virus definition updates this is a good article with screen prints.
How To Fix Microsoft Security Essentials Virus Definitions Updates

I also found this article about tweaking the registry to do this, but I've never done this so I can't confirm if/how it works.
I would use the scheduled task as a first choice, rather the registry tweak...
How To Adjust Micorsoft Security Essentials Auto Update Interval From The Registry

I use Avast free on some of my systems and have not had any problems with it.
MSE is very simple, and Avast is much more complicated.
It's up to you which you prefer, and offers better security for you.
I would not be happy if I found my virus definitions were constantly out of date, and do something to fix it...



Hope this helps,
David

I usually check the Windows Update section

I have issues with deceptive programs that need special tweeking to work the way they are supposed to. MSE's opening screen assured me that my definitions were up to date when, in fact, they were not and updates weren't happening unless I was running a weekly scan. I should not have to fiddle around with other programs or in the registry to get it to do what it was supposed to be doing in the first place.

Frankly, I've had it with MSE. I used to use AVAST! free but it seemed to be getting a bit top heavy with new bells and whistles so, since everyone was raving about MSE, I installed it when I got this machine last summer. I was P.O.ed enough, I downloaded the installer for AVAST! free last night, then disconnected from the internet, removed MSE, installed AVAST! (it ran a quick scan after installation), reconnected to the internet, and checked to be sure the definitions were up-to-date (I was surprised to find out that they were). I set automatic update checking to 90 minutes (default is 240). When I booted up this morning and checked to see if an update had happened yet, it had. Boot up time since installing AVAST! doesn't seem to have changed and the machine appears to be working as fast as ever.

I understand and can't disagree with anything you said.
I would like it if MSE warned when definitions were out of date by a day or more!
That's not way MS implemented MSE...
i.e. With MBAM Pro I can specify when to get alerted for out of date definitions - I choose 1 day.

fyi about Avast:

They now have "Streaming Updates" that push down definition changes "as they happen".
Unless you disabled this, you should silently get "small" definition updates without waiting for the "full 90 minute" refresh.

Avast is doing internal (not public) BETA testing right now on Avast 8.
So be aware there will probably be a new version released within the "next few months"...???

A new feature being added checks for out of date programs (like Secunia PSI).
It probably can be turned off if a person doesn't want it, but that's just my guess.

I don't work for Avast or have any financial interest.
I've read about this on their forums.

Thanks for the update (pardon the pun). I have no problem (quite the opposite, actually) with Avast pushing down updates as they happen. I reset the "timer" mostly because this machine is rarely on for four hours.

When I used Avast in the past, it seems there was a new version roughly every year or so. No biggie since I always can turn off features I don't want to use.

The Secunia PSI clone sounds interesting. I've been using Secunia for several years without any problems but, lately, it has been getting an occasional false positive that's been a bit of a pain to deal with (more an annoyance than a problem). It will be interesting to see if Avast's version is any better or not.

I'm marking this topic as solved since the problem appears to be resolved. Just manually updated via MSE to 1.143.765.0 which is the latest definitions available as of this writing.