Why not scan files with antivirus???

[hyitsme]

Hello,

Kudos: Nice forum - very helpful - well done - quite impressed!

Question:

I noticed that NAV excludes file extensions:
*.dbx, *.nch, *.Vl, excel.exe, msaccess.exe, powerpnt.exe, and winword.exe
from being scanned for viruses.

Why shouldn't these files be scanned? I understood that viruses like to attach themselves to files such as excel and powerpoint. I wanted to get some input on this before I changed the settings on NAV only to find out that perhaps it was not a good idea.

I searched the NAV help and could not find an answer (not that is was not there, only that I was not able to find it).

Your input is greatly appreciated!

Thank you.

[ErnieK]

Try downloading AVG (free Version) from www.grisoft.com (http://www.grisoft.com) I ahve just double checked and it scans DBX (Outlook Exp mails) and all office files as well as zipped files

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Ernie

[Paul Komski]

hyitsme Welcome to the PCGuide.

The three office files you mentioned are the applications themselves and not the data files used by them: such as .xls, .doc, .mdb, etc., which is where the real "nasties" such as macros would be found.

The .dbx files are the OE folders contining the eMails. I'm guessing that since it can scan the incoming eMails it doesn't feel the need to rescan the whole folders all over again.

The other two I'm not sure about. You can of course set NAV to Scan All Files; it is more complete but it takes longer to do.



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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"For a Pandora's box upgrade to IE6 (IEsicks that is)"

[hyitsme]

I am new at the tech side of things and I very much appreciate your willingness to answer my questions. I am now running both NAV and AVG.

Is it possible that a legitimate file could be mistaken for a virus?

Thank you.

[mjc]

Not usually, but there are a couple that have been.....if you have a file that is coming up as infected or a virus, post its name and we'll try to figure it out.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[hyitsme]

Thank you very much!!!

[sea69]

yes those extensions should be included for a complete scan as well as recycle bin.

as per why NAV does this by default, probably because it makes the scan much longer?

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/index.html)

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 04-02-2002).]

[iisbob]

Usually .exe's of known standard file types are excluded to cut down on the scanning process; no need to scan the same file over & over again if you all ready know it's clean.

However...


With today's ever growing public use ( and increasing ignorance of ) the internet for basicly all comunications, it's a good idea to scan all files, even *.tmp's ,as viral creators are geting more creative every day.

You can remove those file types from Norton's exclusion with no problem-i do this with every copy i use, i'm willing to put up with an extra few minutes of a filescan to know that i'm ok.

Of course, i don't download files willy nilly either; and having knowledge of programming ( and a few years of PC experiance ) i can usually spot a suspicious file.

But, i like to cover my backside just in case. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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iisbob

The man who sets out to carry a cat by its tail learns something that will always be useful and which never will grow dim or doubtful. -- Mark Twain.



[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 04-03-2002).]

[Vic 970]

I seem to remember d/l some 'dummy' virus files a while back, I think it may have been on 'Pitstop' idea being to check how well your a/v works.
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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for every question there's an answer. Then a load more questions.
Definition of Upgrade "A means of introducing new bugs to a program to replace the ones that you have eventually found fixes for"

Regards..,
Vic.

[ErnieK]

I also ensure that "Heuristcs" are selected as well (Don't know what it means but it is a nice sounding word http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ) Another program that I use is Jason Levines "Script Sentry" ( http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/ ) this catches any Macros that are run on oyur computer, You have the choice of marking one as safe or checking every time it is opened. It runs in the background and uses NO resources. But if you try and open something suspect up it pops up to warn you. Great wee program and best of all it is free.

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Ernie

[sea69]

absolutely on "Jasons", have had it on all my OS's.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif



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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/index.html)

[pentachris]

Heuristics basically means that the AV software not only scans your drives for the virii in its database, it also scans files looking for code that would have the same effect as the virii in its database (wolf in sheep's clothing). Just learned that myself a few weeks ago.

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Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.