Pattern file

A pattern file, or virus pattern file, is a database of the known virus binary patterns. These binary patterns or signatures serve as a "fingerprint" the PC-cillin scan engine uses to detect viruses in email, FTP, and Web traffic. As new viruses are written and released out into the public, Trend Micro collects their tell-tale signatures and incorporates the information into the pattern file.

Updated pattern files are available every week or so and you should make sure your pattern files are the latest version Trend Micro has released. Updates are available for one year to registered PC-cillin users.