Hello everyone!
A simple question for you expert security guys…
In a normal scanning routine, do you consider it useful or advisable to include compressed files (zip, rar, etc.) in the scan?
I mean… since I performed a full scan at boot time not long ago, is it (almost) safe to exclude compressed files to save time and resources? I know that viruses in compressed files are inactive until you execute them…
Thanks,
Alpha.
In a normal scanning routine, do you consider it useful or advisable to include compressed files (zip, rar, etc.) in the scan?nope...you have a antivirus program with realtime protection running 24/7 in the background when the computer is on....scanning every file that moves, zipping, unzipping, moving, reading etc etc i only run a quick scan evry 2 weeks or so .......and only if something is detected i run a full scan ....and i use default scan settings bootscan i only use if avast tell me to do it...or if i have problems removing something found
I find it neither useful or advisable to routinely scan archives.
The boot-time scan is a bit of a different case in that if avast has made a detection it may recommend that you run a boot-time scan to possible find other/hidden elements, etc. So the boot-time scan is more thorough. Personally if I ever run a boot-time scan I uncheck the scan archives option.
A default scan (Quick or Full) without archives should be adequate. Archive (zip, rar, etc.) files are by their nature are inert, you need to extract the files and then you have to run them to be a threat. Long before that happens avast’s File System Shield should have scanned them and before an executable is run that is scanned.
Thank you! Your views reflect mine, too. I just wanted to feel myself surer by confronting some opinions on that matter… thank you again!
You’re welcome.