microsoft beta anti spyware

[margie]

I know this may seem like a silly question but iam brand
new to computers and the internet and still learning. Do
programs like spyware and virus protection only scan if the
computer is on, meaning should i only schedual scans when
i know ill be at the computer. I was told by a friend they
can scan for things even if the pc is off but it doesnt
seem possible,, ty for any help. margie

 

[Cak]

Margie.. The computer needs to be ON.

 

[Linuxgirl]

Your "friend" was misleading you, Margie. Nothing works if the computer is
turned off.

 

[Andre Da Costa [Extended64]]

Margie, your friend was probably mistaking Logged off with Turned Off.
Certain AntiSpyware applications except for Microsoft AntiSpyware in the
beta 1 can have scheduled scan sessions when the the computer is logged on,
no user such as yourself is logged into the machine if the computer is setup
in a user assigned account fashion.
--
Andre
Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com
Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre
http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
FAQ for MS AntiSpy http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/FAQ_MSantispy.htm

 

[margie]

Thank you all for the help

-----Original Message-----
Margie, your friend was probably mistaking Logged off with Turned Off.
Certain AntiSpyware applications except for Microsoft AntiSpyware in the
beta 1 can have scheduled scan sessions when the the computer is logged on,
no user such as yourself is logged into the machine if the computer is setup
in a user assigned account fashion.
--
Andre
Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com
Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre
http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
FAQ for MS AntiSpy http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/FAQ_MSantispy.htm


.

 

[Ron Chamberlin]

Hi Margie,

The silly Q's are only the ones not asked.

You can run the MWAS and AV scans in the background as an example while you
are surfing, doing email etc.

May I suggest going to http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/default.mspx
for best practices. Be sure to watch the video!
..

Ron Chamberlin
MS-MVP

 

[RandyB]

Perhaps what you well-intention friend ment was that you
could create a scheduled scan to scan you PC while you
were logged off, but the PC was, of course, powered on.
8^)

This would save you from be interferred by a potential
performance issue. Depending upon how many files the
scanner has to scan, or how much resource you have, it
could get sluggish. Scanning at 02:00am helps to aovid
that.

So...
Create a scheduled job to run when you are away...
Logoff the PC... Go home, enjoy life, relax...
Leave the PC power on... ;^)
Check the scan results the next time you log in...

Rb