We use Sophos at work, and I am on their email list. When I get a virus alert email from Sophos, I run a script which downloads *all* their current IDE (identifier) files in a ZIP file and unpacks it (takes seconds), and then run the update program (two clicks). On the next reboot, usually the next morning, the PC is protected against the new virus.

As it's a central network intallation, this actually means that everybody in the office gets updated the next morning and is thus safe within 24 hours of the IDE being issued.

We get monthly updates on CD, but before I set up the above arrangement one user got hit by a virus the day before the next monthly update was due. Since I have subscribed to the email list, we have had no infections.

Once a week is not enough.

I use mutt (Unix text mode email client via a SSH connection to the server) for my email so viruses don't touch me, but I'm never going to persuade the rest of the office to do that.

Anahata