Free online scan service ?

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by Yinda, Dec 2, 2002.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Yinda

    Yinda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2002
    Posts:
    78
    I don't make a full scan after the signature file of my AV software is updated (weekly), because it is too time consuming :oops: (I am confident that programs are checked for viruses before execution).

    From time to time, however, I would like to have an independent check. Then I make an online scan on some critical folders.

    What do yo think about that? Do you know good security sites providing such free service? I am using www.secuser.com (French).

    Regards,

    Yinda
     
    Yinda, Dec 2, 2002
    #1
  2. Paul Wilders

    Paul Wilders Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2001
    Posts:
    12,472
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Yinda,

    I'm unaware which AV software you are using, but IMO a full system scan at least once a week is recommended - especially when the software updates once a week: between those update intervals your system could be compromised.

    Have a look at our free services page.

    regards.

    paul
     
    Paul Wilders, Dec 2, 2002
    #2
  3. Yinda

    Yinda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2002
    Posts:
    78
    Hi Paul,

    I am using McAfee.

    My idea is that all AV should prevent Windows from activating any infected program (according to the current database), whether such infected program is already on the disk or downloded after the update.

    NB. A few months ago, a full scan using McAfee has detected a virus in ICQ, but I have not been using ICQ for at least two years.

    Am I wrong ?

    Regards,

    Yinda
     
    Yinda, Dec 2, 2002
    #3
  4. Paul Wilders

    Paul Wilders Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2001
    Posts:
    12,472
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Hi Yinda,

    "according to the current (read: installed) database" is the essence here. Apart from strong heuristics, an outdated database (and a one-week update interval can be seen as such), newly discovered viruses could have been activated and compromised your system - harm done. Sure: one can possibly detect such a nastie after it has been databased, and ditch it. Nevertheless, the virus/worm could have been active up to that moment.

    At least in theory, such an infection could well get a life of its own - using a build-in SMTP component for example.

    regards.

    paul
     
    Paul Wilders, Dec 2, 2002
    #4
  5. Yinda

    Yinda Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2002
    Posts:
    78
    Hi Paul,

    I just thought that it may not be necessary to make a full scan after the database is updated : known virus should be stopped by the AV upon activation, and unknown virus will not be detected by a full scan.

    But your second comment on built-in SMTP component explains that it is safer to make a full scan anyway.

    Thanks and regards,

    Yinda
     
    Yinda, Dec 2, 2002
    #5
  6. Paul Wilders

    Paul Wilders Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2001
    Posts:
    12,472
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Hi Yinda,

    Known viruses that have been added to the latest database update, could well be activated before they have been databased. Thus, performing a full system scan using the latest database update could at the least (try to) cope with those - again leaving heuristics aside.

    Possibly not: in case heuristics are strong enough, these could save the day.

    IMHO: indeed ;).

    regards.

    paul
     
    Paul Wilders, Dec 2, 2002
    #6
Loading...
Similar Threads
  1. TheIgster

    Free Antivirus with Anti-Ransomware

    TheIgster, Jun 28, 2017
    Replies:
    96
    Views:
    6,649
    ellison64
    Aug 13, 2017 at 5:08 AM
  2. JerryM

    AVG Free vs Paid

    JerryM, Jun 15, 2017
    Replies:
    6
    Views:
    497
    gery
    Jun 16, 2017
  3. oldted

    Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit (free)

    oldted, May 27, 2017
    Replies:
    4
    Views:
    680
    oldted
    May 28, 2017
  4. imuade

    Free cloud AVs?

    imuade, May 9, 2017
    Replies:
    19
    Views:
    1,297
    Tinstaafl
    May 13, 2017
  5. ufakai75

    BD FREE malware protection.

    ufakai75, May 3, 2017
    Replies:
    2
    Views:
    800
    ronjor
    May 3, 2017
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.