Offline Update for ESET products

Unlike other software manufacturers, ESET does not allow users to update their product offline (i.e. download the latest definitions and perform a manual update).

Why such policy ?

One might for example have bought a license for 3 computers, only one of them having an internet connection. How to update the other machines as entitled by the license ?

 

Why would you need to install any Antivirus, Firewall, or other Security Apps if you intend to keep that machine off the network/internet?

Furthermore, the current Virus Definition Database is stored in "cache" in the Documents and Settings directory.

 

Hello,

It could be that the computer without internet access would need an antivirus program if that computer is receiving a lot of files from other computers via memory sticks, CD-ROMs, or a home network. You could save money and keep your system cleaner by simply scanning the files from the computer they came from with internet before putting them on the internet free machine.

Regards,

Mark.

 

Hello,

Thanks for this. However, i know of several home users who bought a license for 2/3 computers. In most cases, one of their machines is used by their children and receives files from friends via external devices. How can one make sure that these files are clean ?

Two questions about the definitions being stored in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ESET\ESET Smart Security\Updfiles" (under XP):

1. Can one simply transfer the files to another computer and manually update the machine from the directory holding the files ?
2. In my case, the files seem to refer to 32-bit machines only (i.e. em000_32_l0.nup). Are these updates compatible with 64-bit machines ?

 

Nope.

What's to keep you from making these machines capable of accessing the internet to retrieve the updates? Have you tried a direct cable connection from the systems with no access to the internet to the the system that does?

 

The point of this post is not to discuss how to connect machines to the internet, be it directly or through any network. Accessing the internet is a right, not an obligation and many parents do not wish their young children to acces the web.

The point is: Why does ESET not provide for a simple way to download and save the updates to a specific location which could be then used as the update server ?

The help file for ESS 4.0.24.0 Home Edition says: "Updates for ESET Smart Security can be downloaded from servers other than the default servers predefined by ESET. The displayed dialog window allows you to add your own update servers containing copies of update files". This suggests that a local folder might be set as default update server.

I copied all of the ".nup" files + the file upd.ver (which i renamed update.ver) from folder "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ESET\ESET Smart Security\Updfiles" to a USB sitck, then tried to update another machine running the same system and Eset product from that folder. FAILS !

 

Here's a link to some possible help:

http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?pag...earch&viewlocale=en_US&searchid=1240815931765

 

From the looks of it, the computers with no internet access are going to have to access the system with the internet connection to retrieve the update files from the system with the internet connection that has already downloaded the update files.

Do you already have all the systems in question hooked up to a home network? Or are they all stand-alone?

 

- Just had a look at ESET documentation but couldn't find any satisfactory solution.
- All machines are stand-alone.

Thks for your help.

 

This takes me back to my earlier question. Since these machines are not even physically connected to the internet let alone to any type of network at all then having any Antivirus, 3rd Party Firewall, or any other Security application installed on them is totally pointless.

As long as all you're "unconnected" machine's OS's are fully updated (Windows patches) then there is nothing for you to be concerned about.
The Windows Firewall and ICS (Internet Connection Sharing...something you don't need anyways) is all the security you need. However, some concern should be placed on whenever you or your children are sharing files by way of removable media. That's where you should consider using ESET, or whatever other AV/Security apps you might be using, to scan these removable medias before using them on your children's systems.