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Author Topic: quick Q -- what gets scanned?  (Read 3023 times)

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Offline Brynn

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quick Q -- what gets scanned?
« on: November 18, 2008, 02:56:39 PM »
Hi Friends,
I couldn't figure out where to post this, it's more of a general question.  So feel free to move if necessary :)

I've downloaded a couple of files from the internet, which I want to scan with ESET, before running and installing their programs.  But I'm confused about what gets scanned  :uhm:

I've noticed that installation or setup files are often much smaller than the programs they install.  I'm not really sure how that works, but I guess the installation file contains instructions for creating whatever the program needs.  Or something like that :roll:

Anyway, if I scan the installation/setup file, is it necessarily going to pick up malware files which may not exist yet, which may be created in the installation process?

Or should I wait until after I install the programs to scan?  And if so, how do I find them all, because they could be scattered all over the place, depending on the program?

It's just that I just did a full system scan yesterday, and want to avoid another so soon, if possible.  So is scanning these installation/setup files sufficient, or should I wait until after I install them and do the full scan?

Thanks for your help  :D
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Offline R-C

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Re: quick Q -- what gets scanned?
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2008, 05:36:44 PM »
I always right click on each aspect that is included when I do a download and choose to scan it with my AV, sometimes it is only the exe some times there are additional files, each one gets a right click and scan. That is what I do. I have AVAST which also has the ability to scan anytime the screen saver comes on so it is scanning my pc quite frequently.
Hope that helps
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Offline Brynn

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Re: quick Q -- what gets scanned?
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2008, 06:33:07 PM »
So that's before you install, right?

Both these files are .exe's, with nothing extra.
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Offline GR@PH;<'S

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Re: quick Q -- what gets scanned?
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2008, 07:54:59 PM »
Brynn,
It is always recommended that you scan anything and everthing that your have downloaded to your PC even though you have ESET Nod32 that should scan anything thats downloaded.

GR@PH;<'S   :Hammys pint:
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Offline R-C

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Re: quick Q -- what gets scanned?
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2008, 05:00:23 PM »
Quote from: Brynn on November 18, 2008, 06:33:07 PM
So that's before you install, right?

Both these files are .exe's, with nothing extra.

yes before install, immediately after download to the pc , right click directly on the exe and select the scan option for your AV from the context menu.
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Offline Aaron Hulett [MSFT]

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Re: quick Q -- what gets scanned?
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2008, 06:49:38 AM »
There's some "depends" here.  First is if the file contains all the files it's going to install, or if they're pulled from a web server (a.k.a. the install file is a stub that only downloads the rest of the files).  Second, if it's a file that contains all the files it's going to install, can the AV program look inside and see those files.  Third, does your AV scan files as they're accessed?  If so, they should be scanned any time the system touches those files (such as when they're created, or you open them).  If not, then either scan each file manually if your AV program has a manual scan ability that can do that, or perform a full system scan.

I believe ESET (NOD32) does scan files on access.  Can't remember if there's a setting for that or not.

It's almost midnight after 2 nights of being up until 4 and 5 am working on things, so I'm in la-la land.  Let me know if any of this was confusing, and I'll try and read it tomorrow after a good night's rest, be confused myself, and then try and unconfuse it.

Thx,
Aaron

This information is provided "AS IS" without warranty, and confers no rights.
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Aaron Hulett | Malware Protection Center | Microsoft Corporation
This post is provided "AS IS" without warranty, and confers no rights.

Offline Brynn

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Re: quick Q -- what gets scanned?
« Reply #6 on: December 11, 2008, 11:25:31 PM »
Oh geez guys :oops: I don't usually leave a thread of mine without thanks and closure.  I'm sorry to leave you guessing.

Thanks Aaron, R-C, Graphics.  All together, you answered all my questions.  My new files are scanned, installed and in use.  And all were clean :goodie:

Hope you're rested up by now Aaron  :tease:
All best :D
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