lmacmil
join:2001-01-26
South Bend, IN
| How often for full system scan?
I run the McAfee security suite with real time virus scanning and automatic updates. What's your opinion on how often a full system scan should be performed? In theory, shouldn't a virus be caught as soon as it's downloaded and therefore isn't a full system scan is redundant? |
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MagMan
Life is simpler when you tell the truth.
Premium
join:2003-10-01
Westlake, OH | I run a scan once a week to cover the redundancy. |
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jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
edit:
May 20th, @03:08PM
| reply to lmacmil
I rarely run a full scan myself.
I always scan downloads...(particular files, folders etc), but I just don't have the patience to wait around for a full system scan. (Regardless of what AV is used, they're all painfully slow as far as I'm concerned....especially when I know it won't find anything, and I could be using my Computer for something useful in the mean time).
And yes, I realize I could run a scan at night when I'm not using my computer...but I doubt that would work very well, considering that fact that I usually shut my machines down at night.
Once in a while, I'll run one of the popular online scanners, just for kicks.
Honestly, I really feel that I could get along without any AV at all.
Certainly, I'm not saying I recommend that for everyone.
In my case, I'm pretty security conscious, and generally know what to avoid.
I also keep complete and up to date images of my system in the rare event that there is some unexpected catastrophe.
Again, that's just me.
No doubt in my mind others will disagree...and that's ok. 
--
I had a life once.....now I have a Computer and a Modem. |
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jabarnut
Light Years Away
Premium,MVM
join:2005-01-22
Galaxy M31
edit:
May 17th, @12:11PM
| reply to lmacmil
(Sorry, dupe post).  |
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CajunTek
Insane Cajun
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-08
Arlington, TX
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| said by jabarnut  :(Sorry, dupe post). Speaking of redundancy...
About once every two weeks here..
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da Cajun Darn I hate Malware |
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DataDoc
Nilsson Schmilsson
Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC | reply to lmacmil
Last Friday of every month. |
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dadkins
Land of Confusion
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
| reply to lmacmil
Occasionally. No set date or time.
Since I have avast set to scan *All* files on Web Shield and Standard Shield... everything gets looked at at some point in time anyways. 
There is alwyas the Shell extension to right click any folder or file and scan(with various scanners including avast) if I think one should be scanned again.
Just highlighting something gets it scanned yet another time.
I'm ok with that! 
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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MarkAW
Call me lil bratt
Premium
join:2001-08-27
Canada
 ·Bell Sympatico
| said by dadkins :Occasionally. No set date or time. Since I have avast set to scan *All* files on Web Shield and Standard Shield... everything gets looked at at some point in time anyways. There is alwyas the Shell extension to right click any folder or file and scan(with various scanners including avast) if I think one should be scanned again. Just highlighting something gets it scanned yet another time. I'm ok with that! X2.
--
Advertising is legalized lying. - H.G. Wells
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. - Aristotle |
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Smokey Bear
veritas odium parit
Premium
join:2008-03-15
netherlands | Sometimes, someday  |
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jvmorris
I Am The Man Who Was Not There.
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-03
Reston, VA
| reply to lmacmil
Well, my PCs are always on (for the most part), so I simply schedule full-system scans every day (or every other day) during the hours when I should be sleeping -- fat chance, right?
To make all this work, all the PCs are set to automatically download new AV signature databases throughout the day. That works pretty well except for one cantankerous machine (which I'm using at the moment).
--
Regards,
Joseph V. Morris |
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Bubba1
Less is More
Premium
join:2006-09-21 | reply to lmacmil
Highly scientific and employed many years ...
I do it when if -feels- right.
However, YMMV.
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"Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything" --Wyatt Earp |
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Pentangle
With our thoughts we make the world.
Premium
join:2006-06-01
Vancouver BC
·Shaw
| reply to lmacmil
Since I installed Avast and Threatfire I only do manual scans about once a month. I have a lot of confidence (hopefully not misplaced) that these two applications will catch malware/virii before they can establish themselves or do any harm.
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Life is like stepping onto a boat which is about to sail out to sea and sink. - Shunryu Suzuki-roshi
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Ryan
join:2001-03-03
Attleboro, MA | reply to lmacmil
Not unless something is found by the memory scanner, so maybe a few years now  I do manually scan files I download though. |
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jaykaykay
4 Ever Young
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-13
Scottsdale, AZ | reply to lmacmil
Every week. I have nothing to lose by doing so and everything to gain should something sneak by me. |
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ronrizzo
join:2008-05-17 | reply to lmacmil
It depends on what you do with the computer. If you are surfing the net all day and going to sites you have never been to I would perform a full scan every day. If you do some browsing to sites you trust maybe one or twice a week. |
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StraitShoot
Who Loves Ya Baby? - Theo Kojak
Premium
join:2003-02-08
Clinton, MA
| reply to lmacmil
I run a full system scan as part of a schedule.. |
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Wolfie00
Premium
join:2005-03-12
| reply to lmacmil
said by lmacmil :In theory, shouldn't a virus be caught as soon as it's downloaded and therefore isn't a full system scan is redundant? In theory.
Those two words are probably responsible for more disasters in the modern history of mankind than any other factor!
The reality is that for one reason or another, viruses do get through. I've rarely had a full system scan where at least some odd thing somewhere wasn't found. I believe that just about everything ever found was either relatively innocuous (harmless adware, for instance) or else was dormant -- i.e.- sitting in a file that had never been run.
When people ask, I recommend full scans about once a month, but in the time-honoured tradition of never practicing what I preach, I tend to do my own about every six months!! Partly because it takes quite a long time.
--
"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace" -- Dr. Albert Schweitzer
"A dog is like a child who never grows old ... always there to love and be loved" -- Aaron Katcher
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Owlbet
Night Owl of the Arctic
Premium,MVM
join:2002-09-24
Palmer, AK
clubs: | reply to lmacmil
On this machine, once a week with the following:
NAV 2008 (Fridays)
Spy Sweeper (Saturdays)
Windows Defender (Sundays)
Set it and forget it.
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Team Discovery
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jadinolf
I love you Fred
Premium
join:2005-07-09
Ojai, CA | reply to lmacmil
Right or wrong, I do all 5 computers on Friday.
My avast! Pro computer is scheduled for Friday evening at 8:00 P.M.
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This post printed on 100% recycled bytes |
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simmery
join:2006-01-29 | reply to lmacmil
Once a week on two machines with NIS2008. Once a day on third machine with NOD32/Windows Defender. |
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