RealTime Prot 'n vs scheduled scan

[CEC4]

As RealTime Prot covers many checkpoints (59), why the
need for a regular deep scan? Aren't those same
checkpoints available in the deep scan? The fact that
RealTime is working gives me a sense of security and is
one less activity to worry about.

 

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

As RealTime Prot covers many checkpoints (59), why the
need for a regular deep scan? Aren't those same
checkpoints available in the deep scan? The fact that
RealTime is working gives me a sense of security and is
one less activity to worry about.

Correct - the aim of this developing application is to stop the malware
before it gets in, thus leading in the perfect case to a scenario where
scans never find anything because the PC is always clean. But we are not
yet in that perfect case, so an occasional scan can still find stuff.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

One reason for scheduled full scans with antivirus products is the
non-infrequent situation in which a not-yet-identified virus gets in before
the definitions are updated to include it. It can then be caught on a
subsequent full scan after definitions are updated.

That same dynamic could happen with spyware, although I think it is much
less likely--the real-time protection should alert you to an unknown--even
if the sigs don't know what the critter is yet.

 

[CEC4]

Thanks, Bill & Robin, for your comments. The resulting
decision: to do a full scan at the time I have my weekly
antivirus scan. Cheers!

 

[plun]

Great conclusion !

To many scheduled scans nowadays :')
Scan after new defs arrives, MS sends new defs on Friday.

One more advice is to clean out all temporarily junk
with CCleaner, tracks eraser is really buggy.

www.ccleaner.com

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I tend to do full scans after definition updates, and weekly or when
suspicious.

There's some redundancy involved--I've noticed that the antivirus will alert
on occasion as Microsoft Antispyware touches a file--but the alternatives
are more complex--turn off antivirus real-time protection while running an
antispyware full scan, then remember to turn it back on... too much effort.
--

 

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

The resulting decision:
to do a full scan at the time I have my weekly antivirus scan.

No need to do both.

If you do an MSAS full scan, your anti-virus will scan each file as MSAS
touches it.

 

[CEC4]

thanks, robin. Actually, the number of files scanned on
my computer in a full MSAS scan is considerably less than
my NAV2005 full scan, so I think it is necessary to do
both; Each is carried out at a different time, post
definitions updates.

-----Original Message-----

The resulting decision:
to do a full scan at the time I have my weekly

antivirus scan.

No need to do both.

If you do an MSAS full scan, your anti-virus will scan each file as MSAS
touches it.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
(e-mail address removed)


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