The All files setting scans all files against all types of threats. (It scans regardless of file type and threat relevance.) This option is more secure because all files are scanned against all threats. But, it can be resource-intensive. There is no filter you can apply to specify which files are scanned against which threat types.
The
Default files setting scans a list of file types (specified in the daily DATs) against only threats that affect those file types. For example, a Microsoft Excel file is scanned for macros, because that threat can affect this type of file. But, the file is not scanned for threats such as Portable Executable infectors because that threat type is not relevant to the file type. This setting can improve performance, but is not as secure as scanning all files.
Using the
Default files option means that there is still a potential risk of receiving infected files. For example, if an Excel file was infected with a macro and then renamed with a
.EXE extension, the macro is not detected because macros do not apply to executable files. To minimize this issue, enable the setting
Also scan for macros in all files.
NOTE: This situation also pertains to failed detection of the EICAR antivirus test string in other file types such as Excel and
.CSV files. Because these file types are not susceptible to the type of attack mimicked by the EICAR test string, they are not scanned for its existence.
EICAR is a standard test file for anti-malware products. For information about how to obtain and use EICAR, see
KB59742.
To set scanning to
Default files or
All files in VirusScan Enterprise:
- Click Start, Programs, McAfee, VirusScan Console.
- Right-click On-Access Scanner and select Properties.
- Select one of the following as needed in your environment:
- All Processes
- Default Processes
- Low-Risk Processes
- High-Risk Processes
NOTE: If you use High-Risk and Low-Risk processes in your environment, you must perform these steps to configure scanning under each policy group.
- Select Detection.
- Under What to scan, select one of the following:
- All files
- Default + additional file types (x)
(where x represents the number of file types selected)
- If required, enable Also scan for macros in all files, and click OK.
- Exit the VirusScan Console.
