Just a note:
The main.cvd for ClamAV/Win/portable is updating from
51 to 52
If you have high speed access the most efficient way to do the update is to directly download the file from here:
http://www.clamav.net/
[see link for "main.cvd ver. 52 released on 15 Feb 2010 09:54 :0500"]
after deleting your current main.cvd
If you allow it to update itself you will get a
55 MB main.cld instead of a nice compact 22 MB main.cvd
don't forget to delete your current daily.cld also if you use this method, the new daily.cvd is only 224kb
Remember:
delete
...\ClamWinPortable\Data\db\main.*
...\ClamWinPortable\Data\db\daily.*
and
replace with main.cvd and daily.cvd from the site link provided
FYI,
Tim
[Edit: To clarify, As John points out below, this is not a necessary procedure, just something that some of us do when the main database is updated [which happens every few months] to keep it as small as possible]
[Moderator JTH Note: Users should note that the above process is not necessary for the proper functioning of ClamWin Portable. ClamWin Portable will automatically prompt to update when it is a bit out of date and then download and apply the updates for you. The above process will temporarily shrink ClamWin's virus definition database by 33MB but it will grow again when the new main database comes out.]
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for the heads up.
"What about Love?" - "Overrated. Biochemically no different than eating large quantities of chocolate." - Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate
0.95.3 - http://www.clamwin.com/
0.95.3 - http://www.clamav.net/
I see! fo Windows and for Other platforms
https://portableapps.com/de/apps/utilities/clamwin_portable
thx
Is it really necessary to keep pruning antivirus definitions when it only saves 30MB?
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
when you are using it on a portable drive where space is a concern then yes it makes a big difference. 30 Megs can allow more space for 1 FLAC audio file or maybe room for portable firefox
my question which is on topic with Johns concern is when the CVD gets prunned doesnt that mean there is something removed that may be useful? like for example maybe some AV definitions for some previous malicious program whats included in the 50MB one but not included in the smaller one.
You misunderstand what is happening.
The current main.cvd is bigger than the previous main.cvd as it contains all the definitions that had been in the daily.cvds since the last main was released.
BUT when the old main.CVD is "updated" and becomes main.CLD it is not done in a very efficient manner, it is "patched", so to speak, with the difference between the old and the new, but not very well, so it it much, much larger.
If you download the new main.CVD directly, instead of patching your old main.CVD into the new main.CLD, it as tight as they can make it.
The same thing happens each day with the dailies.
If you directly download a new copy of daily.CVD is is very small, but as soon as it is updated it is unpacked updated and repacked as a much larger daily.CLD
Simply put, the full/fresh downloaded .CVDs are always smaller then the updated versions, which become .CLDs
Tim
Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?
My issue was more around less technical users thinking this process is somehow necessary. I added a note to your main post to explain this in more detail. For end users, this will simply shrink your ClamWin virus database definitions by 33MB until the next main database is released at which point they will be bigger again.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Point is well taken, but I think it's a valid strategy if your goal is to have a fall-back anti-virus solution: Update it when you know you're going to need it and it's as compact as it can be. As Mir already pointed out, if space is at a premium (as it is for me and my lowly 2GB drive) then that extra ~30MB can make a difference.
I think your explanatory note should serve the less technically inclined well.
i agree. Also thanks tim for correcting my error.