Patch Management Solution

I need to update my Symantec software as it has stopped automatically updating as of January 2015. The LiveUpdate option no longer works and I've tried to look up a solution but all the answers I've found are really confusing. Any help in this regard?

January 2015? Are you running SEP 11.x? If so, it went end of life around this time and no longer gets content updates. You need to move to SEP 12.1 or SEP 14, preferably SEP 14 as soon as possible.

See here:

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH226804

You can try the Intelligent Updater but doubt it helps of truly on 11.x:

https://www.symantec.com/security_response/definitions/download/detail.jsp?gid=sep

Yes, updating to SEP 14 would definitely be a great idea. However, I'm lost as to how to do that. What are the steps I need to take in order to do that?

Full steps here:

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH247759

I appreciate the link. Although, everything contained within looks horrifyingly confusing and I still don't know where to begin. Is there anyone I can call to walk me through the steps?

Also, is this upgrade going to cost anything?

You/d need to open a support case.

Sorry, but are you the SEPM admin or does someone else in your company oversee SEPM?

I'm just an individual. SEP came with the laptop that I'm using now. That's why I have no experience with this at all.

You need a serial number to download the latest version of SEP. If you have no access to it or an admin that can it for you then it's probably time to remove SEP and find something that you can purchase and control yourself. SEP 11.x has been dead for years now and won't adequately protect your machine.

Is there no way to access the serial number through the software? I'm not too keen on the idea of using something else because SEP is the least obtrusive anti-virus software I've ever used. In the past, all other anti-virus software have slowed down my computer by running in the background and they sometimes extend a computer's boot-up time quite a bit.

The serial is sent to company's SEPM via email at which point they can access fileconnect with it and download the unmanaged client.

Ok, I have to admit, I'm getting really frustrated at this point. What exactly is Symantec Endpoint Protection? I'm asking because it came on the Toshiba laptop that I inherited from my brother (Windows 7 operating system), so it appears to be a commercial product. However, you and the customer support are implying that this product caters to businesses and not individuals. If that is the case, why do I, an individual, have a supposed expensive and advanced piece of anti-virus software?

Also, the only way I can access SEP 11 is by clicking on the icon on my task bar. It does not provide anyway to access a product code or serial number. I did however, find the x86 program file, but it's so dense with information that I don't know where to look.

SEP is geared towards enterprises, not consumers. For consumers, you'd look to Norton Security.

I don't know anything about the laptop you have but if it was a school laptop then that could be the reason. When Symantec contracts with schools they usually offer SEP for "home use". The schools admin gives it out to students to install and be protected for free. But the end user is expected to "administer" it so to speak. I doubt the school admin would even help or could care less once the student leaves.

In this case, this is SEP 11. It went end of life back in 2015. Honestly, remove it and find something else that fits yours needs. The product is no longer receiving updates (and won't) or protecting you.

At this stage you likely don't have access to SEP 12.1 or SEP 14, especially if this was part of the home use program.

Basically, it was a free install at the time, the product went end of life and is no longer supported, and now you're stuck with what remains.

Alright, guess it's time to pull the plug on SEP then. Appreciate your patience with me.