Avira clears out the virus signatures file

Avira has released an update of its main virus description file, VDF0. Given the size of the download, of about 15 MByte, a higher server load is to be expected, which would possibly cause a slower update.

Tettnang, 27 October 2008 – Avira has ensured eight more servers for this update of the virus definition file VDF0, thus supplementing the bandwidth with 6 GBit. However, slight delays are to be expected, especially in case of the free version Avira AntiVir Personal.

Following this update, the users of Avira security software benefit from an even faster antivirus solution. The antivirus experts near Lake Constance were able to remove hundreds of thousands of malware detection samples from the signatures file VDF0, because they are now covered by generic detection methods. In this way, the memory load is reduced and fewer sample matches are needed.

Given the size of the download, of about 15 MByte, slight delays are to be expected. Avira has provided more bandwidth on separate servers to the users of its commercial versions. The update could however take longer in the case of the free version, Avira AntiVir Personal, which has more than 60 million users, despite supplementary bandwidth and servers. Avira recommends performing the update at less busy hours, when fewer users are online, usually between midnight and early morning.