Windows Defender - Why does 'check for updates' NOT see the latestmanual updates?

  • Thread starter Thread starter occam
  • Start date Start date
There is logic--not sure I can describe it well, but I'll give it a try. I
know that other anti-malware vendors operate similarly---Symantec, as an
example.

The definitions available at the portal URL are the latest available--they
may be changed as often as every few hours, depending on circumstances.

There is a higher bar for definitions to be pushed out to autoupdate or
WindowsUpdate--typically these are revised far less often--perhaps once or
twice a week, again depending on circumstances (what is new, and how
widespread is it.....)

So--if you believe you have a problem or have a strange looking file that
you want to get the best current opinion on, go for the definitions at the
Portal. The vast majority of users can just let AutoUpdate do the work
invisibly, and not worry about it. If something needs to be pushed out to
everyone, it will be.

There's a pretty high cost both in bandwidth and in CPU cycles on customer
machines for every AutoUpdate. If the "cost" were negligable, as with spam,
I'm sure we'd see every update produced--but it isn't.
 
Thanks Bill for the rationale.

However, when I 'check for updates' manually, I do not see why I should
be pointed to the AutoUpdate location, rather than the portal. There
/should be/ a difference between a scheduled AutoUpdate and a manual
check (they are, after all different features of WD interface.)
 
That's useful feedback--thanks!

I can definitely see you rationale--but, in fact, that isn't how the product
currently works. I know that Microsoft folks do read these groups, so I
hope they'll spot this conversation.
 
I should point out another difference between the update sources. The
updates at the portal are always "full" updates--engine and
definitions--enough to get current from a bare fresh install.

Updates via AU may be delta , which saves on bandwidth. A delta update
contains just the changes needed to move from one definition set to the
latest.

Again--another step to reduce the bandwidth cost to both Microsoft and the
customer.
 
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