Update the .Mac virex definitions from inside an iDisk impenetrable network

Category: Mac, Category: dot Mac

Originally posted on my iBlog 9 September 2003.

Summary: I work at Lincoln University, a small university with a limited infrastructure and IT network. Specifically, their old network proxy prevented me from accessing my .Mac iDisk from on campus (and all the iSync benefits this would allow). While I mostly remain frustrated by this, I did at least figure out how to update my .Mac Virex definitions from my campus PowerMac. (While OSX remains virus free, it's a polite thing to do inside a Windows network.)

SquidMan must be on (authenticated proxy) [2005 edit: this was for OSX Jaguar and earlier---OSX Panther allows authenticated proxies to be set in the System Preferences.]

Using Safari, go to

http://configuration.apple.com/configurations/internetservices/virex/1/virexdatinfo.txt

(the address from the http connection preferences of Virex)

This displays a page with an address. For the August update, it was

idisk.mac.com//Software/.Updates/Anti-Virus Updates/V7030827.gz


I then pasted this into Safari, substituting with my member name, tabebuia. It asked me for my username and password, and downloaded the file.

I then installed the file, which updated Virex!