Using wildcards when creating exclusions
Wildcards (**,*, ?) are helpful in creating exclusions for VSE, but certain rules apply (see examples below).
- The ? wildcard is used to represent a single character in the exact position where it is placed in the path or file name.
- The * wildcard is used to represent partial filenames or extensions with one or more characters from the exact position where it is placed in the path \ file given.
- The ** wildcard is generally used for (partial) filenames or extensions with one or more characters from the exact position where it is placed in the path \ file given.
- System Environmental Variables such as %SystemRoot% can be used in exclusions. User Environmental Variables such as %UserProfile% cannot because the On‑Access scanner runs under the Windows Local System account.
Wildcard Examples
| Example |
Comments |
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**\Temp\test.docx
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Exclude a specific file in a folder named Temp anywhere on the system.
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**\test.docx
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Exclude a specific file anywhere on the system.
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<Drive:>\**\test.docx
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Exclude a specific file in any folder on a specific drive.
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Users\**\Documents\Microsoft User Data\
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Exclude any folder under Users and any folder under User Data (select also exclude subfolders).
|
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C:\Documents and Settings\**\Favorites\
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Exclude the Favorites folder for all users.
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C:\**\Favorites\
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Exclude any folder named Favorites on drive C.
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**\Temp\**
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Exclude the Temp folder in any location, on any drive.
In this example the following directories would be excluded:
- C:\temp
- D:\windows\temp
- c:\documents and settings\Administrator\Local Settings\temp
|
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**\Temp\*.tmp
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Exclude any file with a .tmp extension in a folder named Temp anywhere on the system.
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**\*.html
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Exclude any file with a .html extension anywhere on the system.
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C:\Windows\Temp*\inifile?.*
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Exclude all files named inifileX (where X is any valid character for a file name) within any folder name beginning with Temp under C:\Windows.
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<drive:>\**\*.tmp
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Exclude all files with the tmp extension (*.tmp) in any folder on a specific drive.
In this example any *.tmp files on the D: drive will be excluded:
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To set an exclusion:
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Right-click the VirusScan Enterprise icon in the system tray and select VirusScan Console.
or
Select Start, Programs, McAfee, VirusScan Console.
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Double-click On-Access Scanner.
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Select All Processes.
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Click the Detection tab.
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Select Exclusions.
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Select Add.
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Add the relevant exclusion (see examples above).
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Click OK three times to exit the On-Access Scanner.
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Close the VirusScan Console screen.
IMPORTANT: Do not select Include Subfolders when excluding a file, as this will produce incorrect results.
For additional information and examples, review the
VSE 8.x Product Guide.
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