Filed under: Security, Microsoft, Freeware
How to make Microsoft Security Essentials check for updates more often
I've had plenty of good things to say about Microsoft Security Essentials to this point. On my own systems, it's been a good, lightweight layer of protection.
However, the folks over at H-Online have noted a bit of a problem. There are what H-Online refers to as "certain circumstances" under which Security Essentials seems to be forgetting to 1) update definitions and 2) notify users that their definitions may be as out of date as yet another Kanye West interruption joke.
By default, MSE only checks for updates once per day - when it's working, of course. Fortunately, making it check more often is a fairly simple task.
If you're comfortable editing your registry, read on after the break. If not, it might be best to wait for Microsoft to release a fix.
However, the folks over at H-Online have noted a bit of a problem. There are what H-Online refers to as "certain circumstances" under which Security Essentials seems to be forgetting to 1) update definitions and 2) notify users that their definitions may be as out of date as yet another Kanye West interruption joke.
By default, MSE only checks for updates once per day - when it's working, of course. Fortunately, making it check more often is a fairly simple task.
If you're comfortable editing your registry, read on after the break. If not, it might be best to wait for Microsoft to release a fix.
1. Open the run dialog box (you can do this by holding the Windows key on your keyboard down while you tap R)
2. type regedit in the box and hit enter. On Vista and Windows 7, you may need to confirm a UAC prompt.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Antimalware\Signature Updates
4. Right click the Signature Update key and choose export - this will make a backup of the key in case something goes wrong. Save the file somewhere you can find it.
4. Right click the Signature Update key and choose permissions. You have to give your account the ability to change this key's values - it's locked to prevent malware from screwing things up. Don't worry, we'll remove permissions later.
5. On the permissions screen, click advanced.
6. Advanced Security Settings window opens - click add on the permissions tab
7. Type your username in the box. Not sure what it is? Check the top of your start menu.
8. A permission entry window appears - click full to give yourself the necessary rights.
2. type regedit in the box and hit enter. On Vista and Windows 7, you may need to confirm a UAC prompt.
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Antimalware\Signature Updates
4. Right click the Signature Update key and choose export - this will make a backup of the key in case something goes wrong. Save the file somewhere you can find it.
4. Right click the Signature Update key and choose permissions. You have to give your account the ability to change this key's values - it's locked to prevent malware from screwing things up. Don't worry, we'll remove permissions later.
5. On the permissions screen, click advanced.
8. A permission entry window appears - click full to give yourself the necessary rights.
9. Click ok buttons (should be three in total) until you're back to the main regedit window.
10. Double click the SignatureUpdateInterval value and change it. 4, 6, or 8 may be better check intervals to use.
Now MSE will check more often for updates. While it's not a real solution to the sleep/resume problem, it is a good workaround for the time being.
All that is left to do is reset the permissions on the registry key. Let's do it in one fell swoop this time.
Right click the Signature Updates key and choose permissions. Click advanced, highlight your username, click remove, click ok, click ok again, and then close the registry editor.
10. Double click the SignatureUpdateInterval value and change it. 4, 6, or 8 may be better check intervals to use.
Now MSE will check more often for updates. While it's not a real solution to the sleep/resume problem, it is a good workaround for the time being.
All that is left to do is reset the permissions on the registry key. Let's do it in one fell swoop this time.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nathan said 3:01PM on 10-26-2009
I tried this but it kept saying permission denied when I tried adjusting the permissions. I am in 64 bit Professional edition, could anyone give insight onto why this might be? And how I might go about fixing it?
Thanks!
Reply
fincan said 5:00PM on 10-26-2009
I have the same problem, on step 9 I get permission denied, regardless of what I use (regedit or regedt32) on win 7 pro 64 bit
Scott said 5:55PM on 10-26-2009
Same here - Win7 Pro 32-bit
ChiliPepr said 4:14PM on 10-26-2009
Try using regedt32.
Reply
motang said 4:09PM on 10-26-2009
Nice tip, it's a lot of steps for something simple, which MS should have just put that in by default. :)
Reply
Kevin said 6:11PM on 10-26-2009
I got "Access is denied" on step 9 when OKing out of everything in Win7 Ultimate x64, even though I'm the only user account and it's the admin profile.
Reply
NonprofitTech said 7:02PM on 10-26-2009
My MSE seemed to be updating weekly by default. I did the following:
1. Went to options, clicked 'check for updates before scan'
2. Set it to scan daily
Seemed to solve the problem - I now get daily updates.
Reply
Pep said 5:02PM on 10-27-2009
When selecting the "Full Control" check-it, select too the check-it in the bottom "Apply these permissions to objects within ..." in order to make that all subkeys under this category get the new security properties and then you will be able to change the value.
My opinion, whe you have done this... return the security to the previous state.
Reply
Lance said 5:27PM on 10-27-2009
I have noticed the sleep/resume issue on laptops. Needs to check in at resume went open your laptop and regain an internet connection. Currently I have to maually check for updates.
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