McAfee Virus Definitions description
McAfee Virus Definitions - Virus pattern and engine updates

Virus definition or DAT files contain up-to-date virus signatures and other information that Network Associates anti-virus products use to protect your computer against the thousands of computer viruses in circulation

Whether it's VirusScan VirusScan Pro or Internet Security Suite make sure you have the very latest Internet protection

Network Associates releases new DAT files regularly to provide protection against the approximately 300 new viruses that appear each month

To ensure that your anti-virus software can protect your system or network against the latest virus threats download and install the latest DAT files

The DAT files are compatible with our anti-virus products McAfee that use the version 4320 or later virus-scanning engine We recommend that you upgrade to the latest version of the virus-scanning engine for optimal virus detection and cleaning

We store new DAT files on our web site in several compressed formats to reduce transmission time:

- Compressed DAT Package This file contains the DAT files compressed in a ZIP or tar file You can extract and install them yourself to update most of our anti-virus software The file has a name of the format DAT-4316ZIP or DAT-4316tar where 4316 is the four-digit DAT version number such as 4321

- DAT Package Installer or "XDAT file" This file includes the DAT files plus an executable that installs them The file has a name of the format 4316XDATEXE where 4316 is the four-digit DAT version number such as 4321

- SuperDAT Package Installer or "SDAT file" This file includes the DAT files plus an executable that installs them It may also include a new virus-scanning engine and other program components The file has a name of the format SDAT4316EXE where 4316 is the four-digit DAT version number such as 4321