Interesting Norton Scan Question

Hi Guys,

I think this is an interesting question - so excuse my ignorance if it is
not :-) . I am running xpsp2 and have NAV 2004.

If I scan the two directories I have in java (c:\prog files\java), Norton
tells me it scanned *way more* files than the number of files that is listed
when you do a right click/properties on the directory (or folder if you
prefer).

Here is an example -

If I scan one of the directories with Norton it tells me it scanned 15,306
files - but if I do a right click/properties on that same directory in
windows explorer, it says there are only 546 files (which is correct since
you can tell by doing a quick look at all the sub directories).

So where is Norton pulling all these files from. I looked at the screen
while it was scanning and it looked like it stayed within the directory.
Please explain (and I hope I'm not being dense).

BTW, when I scan all of C: the total number of files scanned is something in
the neighborhood of 160,000 files (IIRC), so it makes no sense that the
directory in java has 15,000 files scanned, and the other directory in java
that I scanned listed approx 12,000 files after the scan.

Thanks...Pete

On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:49:10 -0500, "Pete" <pete@nospam.net> wrote:

>Hi Guys,
>
>I think this is an interesting question - so excuse my ignorance if it is
>not :-) . I am running xpsp2 and have NAV 2004.
>
>If I scan the two directories I have in java (c:\prog files\java), Norton
>tells me it scanned *way more* files than the number of files that is listed
>when you do a right click/properties on the directory (or folder if you
>prefer).

Compressed archive files can contain many files. Your av counts all
the files it scans "within" every compressed archive file. Your
directory listing only shows files the file system "knows about" and
not all the files in compressed archives.

Art

http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg

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Pete wrote:
> Hi Guys,
>
> I think this is an interesting question - so excuse my ignorance if it is
> not :-) . I am running xpsp2 and have NAV 2004.
>
> If I scan the two directories I have in java (c:\prog files\java), Norton
> tells me it scanned *way more* files than the number of files that is listed
> when you do a right click/properties on the directory (or folder if you
> prefer).

Java files (.jar) are actually Zip files with the Java code inside them.
Norton will be unpacking the contents of each .jar file and scanning inside
them which is why the scanned files count is more than Explorer says you
have files.

HTH,

Adam Piggott, Proprietor, Proactive Services (Computing).
http://www.proactiveservices.co.uk/

Please replace dot invalid with dot uk to email me.
Apply personally for PGP public key.
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Adam Piggott wrote:
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> Hash: SHA1
>
> Pete wrote:
>> Hi Guys,
>>
>> I think this is an interesting question - so excuse my ignorance if
>> it is not :-) . I am running xpsp2 and have NAV 2004.
>>
>> If I scan the two directories I have in java (c:\prog files\java),
>> Norton tells me it scanned *way more* files than the number of files
>> that is listed when you do a right click/properties on the directory
>> (or folder if you prefer).
>
> Java files (.jar) are actually Zip files with the Java code inside
> them. Norton will be unpacking the contents of each .jar file and
> scanning inside them which is why the scanned files count is more
> than Explorer says you have files.

Thanks Adam and Art...I am still puzzled by this, and I know nothing about
java even after googling it - eg, when does it come into play during my web
surfing, etc. Remember I said that my total file scan count on a scan of C:
was approx 160,000 files. The java alone is approx 27,000, which is about
17% of everything it scans in C: - That doesn't sound right, but I don't
know exactly what Norton is scanning, when it scans C: Can that be right
(ie 17% of the total C: scan is comprised of a few ".jar" files in a couple
java directories...Pete

>
> HTH,
>
> Adam Piggott, Proprietor, Proactive Services (Computing).
> http://www.proactiveservices.co.uk/
>
> Please replace dot invalid with dot uk to email me.
> Apply personally for PGP public key.
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>
> iD8DBQFEG1YF7uRVdtPsXDkRAmlaAJ4yvc2PmP6RTaJFEIf1cc4B0NdGEACgoNqT
> uW1X9zxR7wZi3NzK3NPDE/U=
> =7dRe
> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Pete wrote:
> Adam Piggott wrote:
> Pete wrote:
>>>> Hi Guys,
>>>>
>>>> I think this is an interesting question - so excuse my ignorance if
>>>> it is not :-) . I am running xpsp2 and have NAV 2004.
>>>>
>>>> If I scan the two directories I have in java (c:\prog files\java),
>>>> Norton tells me it scanned *way more* files than the number of files
>>>> that is listed when you do a right click/properties on the directory
>>>> (or folder if you prefer).
> Java files (.jar) are actually Zip files with the Java code inside
> them. Norton will be unpacking the contents of each .jar file and
> scanning inside them which is why the scanned files count is more
> than Explorer says you have files.
>
>> Thanks Adam and Art...I am still puzzled by this, and I know nothing about
>> java even after googling it - eg, when does it come into play during my web
>> surfing, etc.

Not very often, I've found. ADSLGuide.org.uk's Internet connection speed
tester uses it:
http://www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp

It pops up sometimes with some online stores, special pages like NASA's
"drive the Mars Rover around" and other web pages that need to display
complicated or interactive content - some web site games use it as well.


>> Remember I said that my total file scan count on a scan of C:
>> was approx 160,000 files. The java alone is approx 27,000, which is about
>> 17% of everything it scans in C: - That doesn't sound right, but I don't
>> know exactly what Norton is scanning, when it scans C: Can that be right
>> (ie 17% of the total C: scan is comprised of a few ".jar" files in a couple
>> java directories...Pete

I can tell you that the Java installation does have an unusually large
amount of files in it! The rt.jar file alone has 12932 files inside it.
The figures you're coming across may seem strange but they are correct, I
can understand why you're querying it!
I've just scanned the Java Program Files folder and including Zipped files
the count was 15158 files.
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Adam Piggott wrote:
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> Pete wrote:
>> Adam Piggott wrote:
>> Pete wrote:
>>>>> Hi Guys,
>>>>>
>>>>> I think this is an interesting question - so excuse my ignorance
>>>>> if it is not :-) . I am running xpsp2 and have NAV 2004.
>>>>>
>>>>> If I scan the two directories I have in java (c:\prog files\java),
>>>>> Norton tells me it scanned *way more* files than the number of
>>>>> files that is listed when you do a right click/properties on the
>>>>> directory (or folder if you prefer).
>> Java files (.jar) are actually Zip files with the Java code inside
>> them. Norton will be unpacking the contents of each .jar file and
>> scanning inside them which is why the scanned files count is more
>> than Explorer says you have files.
>>
>>> Thanks Adam and Art...I am still puzzled by this, and I know
>>> nothing about java even after googling it - eg, when does it come
>>> into play during my web surfing, etc.
>
> Not very often, I've found. ADSLGuide.org.uk's Internet connection
> speed tester uses it:
> http://www.adslguide.org.uk/tools/speedtest.asp
>
> It pops up sometimes with some online stores, special pages like
> NASA's "drive the Mars Rover around" and other web pages that need to
> display complicated or interactive content - some web site games use
> it as well.

Thanks Adam...It sounds like I don't need it. Is it better just to leave it
installed just in case, and is it okay to delete the previous version of
java in add/remove programs (also is it okay to remove all the previous
versions of "acrobat reader" in add/remove programs, or are they "additive"
and you need to keep the earlier directories also for the complete
application to work)...Pete


>
>
>>> Remember I said that my total file scan count on a scan of C:
>>> was approx 160,000 files. The java alone is approx 27,000, which
>>> is about 17% of everything it scans in C: - That doesn't sound
>>> right, but I don't know exactly what Norton is scanning, when it
>>> scans C: Can that be right (ie 17% of the total C: scan is
>>> comprised of a few ".jar" files in a couple java directories...Pete
>
> I can tell you that the Java installation does have an unusually large
> amount of files in it! The rt.jar file alone has 12932 files inside
> it. The figures you're coming across may seem strange but they are
> correct, I can understand why you're querying it!
> I've just scanned the Java Program Files folder and including Zipped
> files the count was 15158 files.
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Pete wrote:
> Adam Piggott wrote:

> It pops up sometimes with some online stores, special pages like
> NASA's "drive the Mars Rover around" and other web pages that need to
> display complicated or interactive content - some web site games use
> it as well.
>
>> Thanks Adam...It sounds like I don't need it. Is it better just to leave it
>> installed just in case,

The problem with Java, I feel, is that it is used very little but suffers
from relatively severe security issues. It also takes up quite a wodge of
disk space. I expect that without it installed it would take quite a while
before you found yourself wanting it.


>> and is it okay to delete the previous version of java in add/remove
>> programs

I uninstall the program completely then install the latest version when
updating, as parts of the previous installation are left behind (including
the Add/Remove entries). I believe that in the past I have removed old
entries but can't guarantee this works as it was a while ago.

>> (also is it okay to remove all the previous
>> versions of "acrobat reader" in add/remove programs, or are they
>> "additive" and you need to keep the earlier directories also for the
>> complete application to work)

The security updates for Adobe Acrobat are additive, they should be left as
is. Or you could use Foxit PDF Viewer (haven't got link on me, a web search
should find it).

Cheers
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On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 11:42:19 +0000, Adam Piggott
<usenet@proactiveservices.co.invalid> wrote:

>> It pops up sometimes with some online stores, special pages like
>> NASA's "drive the Mars Rover around" and other web pages that need to
>> display complicated or interactive content - some web site games use
>> it as well.

And some online financial institutions require it from what I hear.

>>> Thanks Adam...It sounds like I don't need it. Is it better just to leave it
>>> installed just in case,
>
>The problem with Java, I feel, is that it is used very little but suffers
>from relatively severe security issues. It also takes up quite a wodge of
>disk space. I expect that without it installed it would take quite a while
>before you found yourself wanting it.

I've uninstalled it from my machines and don't miss it. It's one less
largre item that I no longer have to bother to update and scan.

>>> (also is it okay to remove all the previous
>>> versions of "acrobat reader" in add/remove programs, or are they
>>> "additive" and you need to keep the earlier directories also for the
>>> complete application to work)
>
>The security updates for Adobe Acrobat are additive, they should be left as
>is. Or you could use Foxit PDF Viewer (haven't got link on me, a web search
>should find it).

Here it is:

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

Art
http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg

Art <null@zilch.com> wrote in
news:nojq12h847i7755t5tg6lg2hu1f5qlda0p@4ax.com:

> And some online financial institutions require it from what I
> hear.

>>>> Thanks Adam...It sounds like I don't need it. Is it better
>>>> just to leave it installed just in case,
>>
>>The problem with Java, I feel, is that it is used very little but
>>suffers from relatively severe security issues. It also takes up
>>quite a wodge of disk space. I expect that without it installed it
>>would take quite a while before you found yourself wanting it.

> I've uninstalled it from my machines and don't miss it. It's one
> less largre item that I no longer have to bother to update and
> scan.

I need it for on-line crosswords but using "prefbar" for Firefox
1.0.* or "quick preferences" for 1.5.* makes it easy to turn it on
and off...

--
-bc-

Bill Clark wrote:
> Art <null@zilch.com> wrote in
[snip]
>> I've uninstalled it from my machines and don't miss it. It's one
>> less largre item that I no longer have to bother to update and
>> scan.
>
> I need it for on-line crosswords but using "prefbar" for Firefox
> 1.0.* or "quick preferences" for 1.5.* makes it easy to turn it on
> and off...

have you tried noscript (http://www.noscript.net)? basically it's a
firefox extension that implements a whitelist for all those lovely
active content features (java, javascript, flash, etc)... only content
hosted by domains in your whitelist will be loaded and executed...

--
"it's not the right time to be sober
now the idiots have taken over
spreading like a social cancer,
is there an answer?"