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Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows: enabling extensive scan mode in version 4.5 and above

By default, Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows 2000+ version 5 and above, and Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows Windows NT and Windows 95/98/Me version 4.5 and above, perform a 'Normal' scan which checks those parts of each file that are likely to contain viruses. 'Extensive' scanning examines the complete contents of each file. It is significantly slower than normal scanning.

You should rarely need to use extensive scanning, and only on advice from Sophos technical support. However, to detect certain viruses, you may be told to enable extensive scanning.

You can use Enterprise Console to centrally configure extensive scanning for managed computers, or you can configure it locally.

What to do

Central configuration

  1. Open Enterprise Console and select the Anti-Virus and HIPS policy that you want to change.
  2. Right-click the policy and select 'View/Edit policy'.
  3. In the 'Anti-virus and HIPS policy' window, click 'On-access scanning'.
  4. In the 'On-access scan settings' window, click the Scanning tab.
  5. In the 'Scanning level' panel, select 'Extensive'.
  6. Click 'OK' twice to finish.

Local configuration

Carry out these procedures at the computer where you want extensive scanning to apply.

Windows 2000/XP/2003

Configuring 'on-access' or 'right-click' scanning:

  1. Open Sophos Anti-Virus, select 'Configure'.
  2. Select either 'On-access scanning' or 'Right-click scanning'.
  3. In the dialog box, select the Scanning tab. In the 'Scanning level' panel, select Extensive|OK.

Creating a new scan:

  1. Open Sophos Anti-Virus, click 'Set up a new scan'.
  2. Give the scan a name, then click 'Configure this scan'.
  3. In the dialog box, select the Scanning tab. In the 'Scanning level' panel, select 'Extensive'.
  4. Select any additional configuration you require. Click 'OK'.

Windows NT and Windows 95/98/Me

Configuring 'on-access' or 'immediate' scanning:

  1. Open Sophos Anti-Virus.
  2. Ensure either the 'On-access' or 'Immediate' tab is selected.
  3. Click Options|Configuration.
  4. In the dialog box, select the Scanning tab.
  5. In the 'Scanning level' panel, select 'Extensive'. Click 'OK'.

Adding a scheduled job:

  1. Open Sophos Anti-Virus, ensure the 'Scheduled' tab is selected.
  2. Click 'Add', and enter a new Job name. Click 'OK'.
  3. In the 'Scheduled Job Configuration' dialog box, select the Scanning tab.
  4. In the 'Scanning level' panel, select 'Extensive'.
  5. Select any additional configuration you require. Click 'OK'.

Refer to the Sophos Anti-Virus startup guide for more information on configuring scanning options.

If you need more information or guidance, then please contact technical support.