Antivirus database not updating - what's wrong?

Woodcreek

Hello, I'm not exactly a computer-savvy and rely on people knowing better than myself. I have a valid F-Secure Total subscription and the program gives an alert about every hour, that I need to update. But when I click the link, the update is failing. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. Any ideas?

Ukko

Hello,

It may be helpful to know what operating system and device you have. This is Windows or MacOS, for example. What version?

Can you also check which version of F-Secure TOTAL you have? (guide for Windows platform).

I don't know how to recommend checking whether something is blocking the connection to the F-Secure servers. Only if you say - when was your last successful AV database update?

Also, could you explain a bit - ""an alert about every hour, that I need to update."" - does it says that AV database is too much old. Or that there is an update/upgrade?

If all things are good (platform/operating system is still supported and so things) - the easiest way is to reinstall F-Secure TOTAL and check if problem is still there. (guide for Windows, platform; in the same Online Help - you can check other platforms guides).

Thanks!

Woodcreek

Your reply was very helpful, thank you! However, it made me realize I'm not only outdated, but old-fashioned as well:

You asked about the version of my F-Secure TOTAL, so I had to check; it's Version 19.0. And when I got the release-notes up, it turns out F-Secure has not given updates on my computer since Version 19.1, as I still run on Windows 7.

...bugger...

But thanks anyway, I really appreciate your reply. :-)

Ukko

Hello,

it turns out F-Secure has not given updates on my computer since Version 19.1, as I still run on Windows 7.

Yes, Windows 7 is no longer supported. As stated there: Support for Windows 7 ending on August 14, 2023. And, indeed, as you said, the latest available version was 19.0 (I mean, with Windows 7 support). Active installations would continue to 'work' (I don’t know if licence "renewal" would have worked on such a system), but reinstallation, for example, would not have worked. At some point, AV database updates should have stopped arriving (I don’t know whether it was immediately at the end of support or a bit later).

F-Secure TOTAL 19.1 introduced "Removed support for Windows 7. Installation and updates are blocked on Windows 7" (Released June 2023).

It’s good if basic (with outdated database) protection was still applied. Same with advanced things like behavior blocking and web-browsing protection.

I hope you find a way to use your device safely. For example, visiting only trusted/known websites, not downloading anything suspicious and having all possible system's security options enabled would help.

Just keep in mind that Microsoft also stopped releasing security updates for this version even earlier and any vulnerabilities discovered (later) could, in theory, be used by scoundrels (at least they could try). In general, it should be possible to safely use even older versions of Windows with extreme caution and so on. However, general advice is always given such as switching to a more modern system.

F-Secure (and other cyber security companies) usually stop supporting a platform only after the "manufacturer" has stopped doing so. And they stop supporting it a few years after that. In many ways - because they cannot guarantee the security of the device, since system vulnerabilities can bypass software protection. And more often - since their solutions contain more current technologies or features that are not supported in previous versions.

Thanks!