Automate a silent scan.

[DavidR]

Generally before running a file it would be scanned.

I can only go on what the avast help file says about what files are scanned on the scan created/modified files, see image, but to me that would appear to be all files.

I don't think zip/rar files would be scan just because you open it as at that point nothing has been run. When you extract, then you fall into the create/modified scan area, then if you try to run an executable that to would then be scanned 'before' it is allowed to run.

I don't know if an iso would be scanned as it really isn't an executable file more an archive file, but when it is burned to a CD, etc. then the created/modified 'could' come into play again.

[Manni337]

So really all my downloads at some point or another will be scanned  . It’s just the iso files which are at question.

That’s good news. It means I don’t have to scan files manually, therefore no popups. It would just be the iso files that I may have to scan before I burn them.

Hopefully someone could shed some light on if burning an iso would come under the created/modified scan, or if not how to include it.

Thanks for your help with this.

[DavidR]

Why don't you do a test, burning an iso file to CD.

First left click on the avast 'a' icon and select the Standard Shields detailed view and check the scanned count totals and you would see.

[Manni337]

Good idea.

I'm not at my home PC at the minute, but I'll give it a go when I get back and post what I find.

[Manni337]

Right, I finally got around to doing a test burn of an iso file.

I opened Avast, selected standard shield - detailed view and could see the scan count and last scanned file, but these where changing every second or so due to background processes.

I burned the iso to a CD and monitored Avast from start to finish and I never saw it scan anything to do with the iso archive.

If I extracted the iso archive (something I wouldn't normally do) then Avast would scan the files.

I think I'm going to have to scan these files manually , but at least all my other files get scanned at some point.


Does anyone see this as a vulnerability? Seen as these would be boot CD's therefore no anti-virus would be running at the time of using these CD's.

[DavidR]

The thing to remember is that the .iso file is inert until you first burn it to CD and then try to run the application/media on it, so it doesn't present an immediate risk. So you have plenty of time to scan it, either before or after burning it to CD.

[Manni337]

I understand. My thought was if your not disciplined enough to always manually scan them yourself then you could leave yourself open to a virus.

I'd just like to thank you for your help with this. It's much appreciated. It's put my mind at rest to say the least. I now only have to worry about one file type instead of everything I download, it's all done in the background like I wanted and I can just leave it to do it's job.

In short, an excellent program & an excellent forum!

Thanks again!

[DavidR]

No problem, glad I could help.