Knowledge Center

An Extra.DAT is a temporary detection file created by McAfee Labs to detect and remove threats that have not yet been added to the daily DAT files. You must apply an Extra.DAT to the infected system and any systems that could potentially be compromised.

With a stand-alone VSE installation that does not use a central update repository such as ePolicy Orchestrator, you must apply the Extra.DAT locally.

IMPORTANT: With VSE 8.7i and later, you must temporarily disable part of the Access Protection feature before proceeding. For detailed instructions on how to do this, see KB52204. 

For detailed instructions on how to determine product version information see KB51722. 

To apply the Extra.DAT locally:  

1. Click Start, Run, type services.msc, and click OK.
2. Right-click the McAfee McShield service and select Stop.
3. Copy the Extra.DAT file to the following location:
   
   32-bit installations
   <installation drive>\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\Engine 
   
   64-bit installations 
   <installation drive>\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\McAfee\Engine
    
4. In the Services window, right-click McAfee McShield and select Start.
   
   The new detections in Extra.DAT will take effect after the McShield service has started. 

NOTE: Negative Extra.DAT files are used to suppress a detection. These files do not show up in the Help, About VirusScan Enterprise screen.