The Virus Threat

Lesson 3: Safe Computing Practices

Running a scan

Not only should you keep your scanner up to date, you should often run frequent scans. Every major virus protection/detection program contains a continuously running scanner to attempt to detect and virus activity. The scanners are getting better every day. They are becoming more efficient at detecting suspicious activity and thus discovering new viruses that had not yet been reported. However this scanner is not enough, you should have your scanner do a full scan fairly frequently to make sure a virus hasn't slipped by the active scanner. Once again the frequency of the scans should be determined according to how heavy a computer user you are, if you use the computer daily and spend a lot of time on the Internet, checking email, and using disks from outside sources, then you should scan at least weekly. Most programs will allow you to set up automated scans, but the method for scanning varies depending software package. It is a good idea to set the schedule to run when you will not be using the computer, however you must leave the computer on for the time that the schedule is set to run or it will not run. For each of the programs I have mentioned we will talk about how to set up automatic scans and how to run manual scans.

1. Launch VirusScan.
2. If it isn't the current version, choose 'Check for a VirusScan update' from the Tasks list.
3. Click on 'Scan for Viruses Now' from the Tasks list.
4. My Computer is checked by default to be scanned.
5. Click the Scan button.
6. Your computer will now be scanned for viruses.

Setting up a scheduled scan:

1. Launch VirusScan.
2. Under Advanced Tasks, choose 'View and edit scheduled scans'.
3. 'Vshield', 'Scan My Computer', and 'Scan Drive 'C'' are all set up by default.
4. Highlight 'Scan My Computer' and click the 'Edit' button. T
5. The properties window that appears allows you to 'Configure' the settings of the scan and the 'Schedule' of when you want it to run.
6. The question mark near the X in the upper right corner will give you help on anything that you have questions about.
7. After you have the scan set up, as long as your computer is on at the time that VirusScan is scheduled to run a scan, it will scan your machine for viruses.

Norton

1. Start NAV, and then click Options. If a submenu appears, then click Norton AntiVirus.
2. Click Manual Scan.
3. In the "What items to scan in addition to files" section, check Memory (for Windows 95/98/Me only), Boot records, and Master boot record.
4. In the "File types to scan" section, click All files, and check "Scan within compressed files."
5. In the left list box, click Bloodhound.
6. Check "Enable Bloodhound heuristics (recommended)."
7. Check "Highest level of protection."
   NOTE: Choosing the "Highest Level of Protection" may cause NAV to incorrectly report a virus. Symantec suggests that you use this setting only if you highly suspect that you have a virus. In all other cases, check the middle setting "Default level of protection (recommended)." If NAV detects a virus only when heuristics is set at "Highest Level of Protection," then we suggest that you use Scan and Deliver to submit a virus sample to the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center. For instructions on using Scan and Deliver, see the document How to submit a file to Symantec Security Response using Scan and Deliver.
8. Click OK.

1. Start NAV, and then click Scan for Viruses.
2. Click Scan my computer.
3. Click the icon under Task Schedule.
4. Choose the time and frequency for the scan.
5. Click OK.

Sophos

To run Sophos scan I suggest reading the users manual available online for the specific version you have.

1. Start PC-cillin
2. Click on the tab labeled Standard
3. Click Scan all Drives

Scheduled Scans

0. Click "Scan" on the left navigator bar and then "Scan Manager."
   A report of all the scan jobs is displayed. To run, edit, copy or delete any of these current tasks, select it and click the corresponding button at the top of the screen. To schedule a scan,
1. Click "New Task."
2. Complete the scheduled scan configuration as you follow the on-screen instructions. Click "Finish."
   When a task is running, a scanning screen is shown reminding users of the scan details, i.e., action when virus found; file being scanned; current action; time elapsed; file(s) scanned; virus(es) found; current status and so on.

Platinum 7

1. Start Platinum7
2. Click on the virus scan menu in the control panel of the software
3. Select Scan all My computer

Scheduled Scans

Same as a manual scan, except choose the scheduled scans instead of Scan all My computer.

F-Prot offers a step-by-step method of scanning your system that they call ScanWizard.

ScanWizard in Normal mode offers the following steps:

F-Prot has a module called Scheduler to assist you in setting up a scheduled time for scanning.

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