every day db updates

General Topics
1

Every time I turn on the PC Avast downloads the virus definition database. It takes about 3 minutes at 10% CPU.

What is wrong with my setup? No way the VD database changes that often. Why download the whole thing?

Please help.

Thank you

2

The virus database is constantly updated, that is the nature of antivirus applications they have to keep the virus definitions up to date or there is little point in having an AV installed.

avast is checking for updates when you first connect (and every 4 hours if you remain connected), if one is available then it will be downloaded.

It isn’t downloading the whole thing as avast does an incremental virus database update and it is normally measured in KBs rather than MB. My last couple of updates have been in the order of 50KB and even being on dial-up this is no problem.

So perhaps some information about your system, Operating system, avast version, connection method, RAM, CPU ?

3
  1. Good…! It’s supposed to do this…! :wink:
  2. Nothing.
  3. It doesn’t download the whole thing…!
    asyn
4

You’d definitely know the difference if, for some reason, you were actually downloading the full database rather than the proper incremental updates – the full one is on the order of 30 megs, as opposed to a few dozen K.

5

Thank you for your replies. Probably there is nothing wrong with the setup.

It’s just been hot around here for the last two weeks or so. So I am very cognizant of any background CPU activities. But it’s going to cool down next week.

Thanks again.

6

Do you use avast! 4 or avast! 5?

7

You’re welcome…!
asyn

8

Igor,

I am using version 4.8. Does it make any difference?