Comments for When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

Comment from Jeffrey Smith on 2010-08-09

2010-08-09T14:50:15Z

I don't think your article answers the question you posed as a title, to wit: "When do I actually need to run a virus scan?"

I was hoping to get some authoritative guidance here on how often an on-demand scan needs to be done when I employ real-time scans 24/7? If the answer is weekly, then I figure I can stop my nightly on-demand scans and reduce the associated wear and tear on my hard drives not to mention the electricity it takes so spin those drives and touch every file on all my hard drives by a factor of 86%. Your answer to this, Leo, may help millions of us make our hard drives last longer and also help save the planet by reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

Thanks for your articles - I've learned a lot on your site.

When in doubt: daily. Ultimately, though, I can't give you a one-size-fits-all answer because it depends much to much on how you use your computer, what your safety habits are and more.

13-Aug-2010

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from De Lys on 2010-03-14

2010-03-14T14:45:54Z

I did not see NOD32 on the list, is it still among the top 2 as in 2006 with you Leo? Thank you, I so appreciate your site.

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Enrique Grajales on 2010-03-09

2010-03-10T02:37:19Z

I have a friend never uses antivirus installed on its PC.
he only runs every 2 or 3 days avasoft adware free and its machines work clean soft full processor speed during long time (years)

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from robert on 2010-03-09

2010-03-09T23:56:45Z

I actually don't run a real-time scan since I'm fairly well protected in other ways

would be nice if you could have explained what the other ways were

Mostly it boils down to everything listed in this article: Internet Safety: How do I keep my computer safe on the internet?

10-Mar-2010

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from Jack on 2010-03-09

2010-03-09T21:26:09Z

A on demand scanner nightly may be the answer for older computers. All these newer real time programs hogs the memory and speed the older computers do not have. May be a good choice if just visit Yahoo, Gmail and other mainline sites. If I did banking or credit cards I would do after the nightly scan only!

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from Len on 2010-03-08

2010-03-09T04:22:08Z

@kim

Google is your friend.

http://www.google.ca/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&source=hp&q=Winantispyware&meta=&btnG=Google+Search

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from Michael Horowitz on 2010-03-06

2010-03-06T22:32:23Z

@kim: The website virustotal.com scans files with over 30 different antivirus programs. If your program is on the list of software they use, it's certainly legit. Here's the list

http://www.virustotal.com/sobre.html

If its not on the list, the safer choice is not to use it. There are MANY phony antivirus programs.

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from www.pshycic.de.tl on 2009-04-18

2009-04-19T02:34:41Z

ok! but i think antivirus are also bad. they makes computer slow and eats up the bandwidth of internet connection for updating.

In general the impact is minimal, and far outweighs the risks you might be taking by not using one.

06-Mar-2010

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from Asif Dange on 2008-12-25

2008-12-25T09:49:08Z

Hi Leo,

I have a small querry. I have an antivirus on my machine. The Real time scan is always ON. But when i do a manual scan i find some of my files were infected with virus which the Real Time scan didnt find out. Can u suggest me what was the possible problem as to why The Real Time Scan didnt notice about the virus?????????

I have only one Antivirus running on my machine.

It's difficult to say without knowing exactly what anti-virus program you're using. Some "real time" scans only scan what's coming in over your internet connection, for example. If a file arrives some other way, say through windows networking, it might not be caught. Similarly some programs don't real-time scan everything even on the internet - they scan browser activity and email, but might skip peer-to-peer file sharing applications or other apps. As you've seen, a periodic full scan is an important step in addition to real-time.

- Leo
25-Dec-2008

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from Colleen on 2008-12-03

2008-12-03T17:51:10Z

You mentioned you run your scan at night. Does that mean that computer DOES NOT need to be on for the scan to run? Thanks so much!

It means that I leave my computers running at night. Your computer must be on to run scans.

- Leo
04-Dec-2008

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from Ken Crook on 2008-01-05

2008-01-06T07:00:01Z

If you live near a Fry's Electronics store they have a Norton AntiVirus 3-user copy (works fine for just one computer) for $49.95 with a $30 mail-in rebate, and a $20 upgrade mail-in rebate. Fry's seems to do this every year. I haven't paid more than tax for Norton AntiVirus in 3-4 years. So if you have Norton AntiVirus the 2008 version is free. If not it's only $20 this year and probably free next year.

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from kim on 2007-06-16

2007-06-16T18:43:22Z

hi Leo I just downloaded a free virus scan from Winantispyware. Do you know if this was a good thing to do or not?

I'm not familiar with that one.

06-Mar-2010

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

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Comment from shaun on 2007-03-27

2007-03-27T07:37:11Z

Hey leo,

Ill keep this simple as possible. I bought a new computer and it had the free norton anitivirus program for 40 days. to renew it 90$. so should i renew it or shall i just get a free AVG antivirus program? is the free ones good or the paid ones better? thanks for your time and also sorry updates for the anitivirus means that specialy for the program or for the whole computer. because i cant see updates just for the antivirus program. thanks

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A comment on: When do I actually need to run a virus scan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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