When updating/installing the new virus pattern to my anti-virus can i delete the old virus pattern?

Question

Thank you guys im very Appreciate to your answers about this....

Answer 1

While I have absolutely NO idea why, I suppose you can. Check the vendors website or the included help files for the folder the virus files are stored in and delete it.
Here's the thing: when you update it's just that-an update. It just appends new definition to the list. If you delete the original it'll probably give you an error. At best when you update again, you'll get a honking big file as your AV will re-download and re-install the old definitions. At worst (probably-if it starts at all) you will only have the protection provided by the new list, the old list will be gone.
If you downloaded the complete list with new additions every time the file would be huge, and it would get bigger with every download. Example: You have a list of things on paper, say pages 1-10 and it's time to add 11-20 how do you want to do it? Type up 20 pages or just type up the new 10 as pages 11-20 and add them to the stack? Muuuuuuch simpler just to add to the list rather than redo the whole thing every time.
Later tater, good luck and I hope this helps.

Answer 2

The software keeps up with the patterns. It isn't a good idea to delete them as it may cause unexpected results. I tried this before and it actually crashed my Trend-Micro anti-virus. I was then forced to register the software, re-install, and initialize it.
There are encrypted keys inside each pattern that needs to be there in order for the new recently updated key to work. Although I'm not sure is this exists on all packages.

Answer 3

Do not delete the old virus pattern. It isn't really "old". That definition, signature, file pattern whatever you want to call it should stay there. The company doesn't rewrite the whole pattern to add one definition. It installs that 1 definition onto the old pattern so it builds up. If you delete the definitions, the older viruses wont be detected.

I hope that made sense.

Answer 4

Norton, AVG, Avast are free antivirus software.

You can download free softwares at http://fixit.in/antivirus.html