[clamav-users] Question regarding freshclam log entry

[Kris Deugau]

J Doe wrote:
> I note though that man 5 freshclam.conf states that clamd is *NOT* set to update by default, however when I installed the package on Ubuntu 16.04.03 LTS, it has put in 3600 for an update frequency.

Between freshclam and clamd there are three options here that operate 
indpendently:

NotifyClamd -> freshclam configuration, tells freshclam where to find 
the clamd configuration file to look for the clamd socket

Checks -> freshclam configuration, tells freshclam how often to check 
for new signatures

SelfCheck -> clamd configuration, tells clamd how often to check and see 
if the signature files have been updated

> That said, if freshclam does not notify clamd by default, does that mean if I don’t get the socket problem sorted out that clamd (and more importantly clamav-milter), will still use the most recently downloaded signatures when scanning ?  Or does clamd and clamav-milter have to receive an update message via the socket to use the most recent signatures?

No;  the notification is just a way to get clamd aware of the new 
signatures faster.  Otherwise it will pick them up on its own refresh 
(SelfCheck).

-kgd