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Posted: 20-May-2021 | 5:35AM · 16 Replies · Permalink
I keep getting a notification from Norton 360 saying "attention Your PC needs to be scanned ...".
This is an anti-virus program and so it should be doing this automatically, but I can't find anything in the settings to tell it to do this. What do I need to do to tell Norton to automatically scan for viruses.
Posted: 20-May-2021 | 6:48AM · Edited: 20-May-2021 | 7:01AM · Permalink
Message: "You are at risk. Your PC needs to be scanned for viruses and spyware"
This message can appear due to several reasons, and may not disappear even after you click Fix Now in Norton.
Windows XP users skip to Step 3 and run the Norton Remove and Reinstall tool.
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Please review: https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v107431887
Please post back progress.
Message: "You Are At Risk"
The appearance of this message may not be due to any threats. Your Norton protection can display this message if:
Not enough cloud storage space
One or more of the security features like Auto-Protect, Firewall, or SONAR are turned off.
The definitions are not up-to-date or routine scan has not completed
When you see this alert on the product, click Fix Now.
If Norton cannot fix the problem with the feature, or cannot run LiveUpdate or a scan, you may see a different error in the Fix Now window. Select one of the following:
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Please review: https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v119294825
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Posted: 20-May-2021 | 8:01AM · Permalink
bjm_
I had already checked out the links you provided in your response. Although I hadn't actually done the uninstall / reinstall that was suggested. I'll try that now.
Am I to assume from this that Norton should already be doing automatic scans and that I am only seeing this suggestion to do a scan because there is some kind of problem with the current installation?
The reason I ask is that the "fix now" just does a scan. It doesn't correct any issue with automatic scanning. I've had the same message both yesterday and today.
Posted: 20-May-2021 | 8:13AM · Edited: 20-May-2021 | 8:32AM · Permalink
DKuehner:bjm_
1) I had already checked out the links you provided in your response. Although I hadn't actually done the uninstall / reinstall that was suggested. I'll try that now.
2) Am I to assume from this that Norton should already be doing automatic scans and that I am only seeing this suggestion to do a scan because there is some kind of problem with the current installation?
Um, have you performed machine Restart (not Shut down)?
Um, are you running any other real-time protection?
1) Maybe, run Remove Only and reinstall the product using the installation file that you downloaded from your NortonLifeLock account.
Uninstall Norton device security from Windows
Download the Norton Remove and Reinstall tool.
Save the file to the Windows desktop. On some browsers, the file is automatically saved to its default location.
To open the Downloads window in your browser, press the Ctrl + J key.
Double-click the NRnR icon.
Read the license agreement, and click Agree.
Click Advanced Options.
Click Remove Only.
Click Remove.
Click Restart Now.
You can reinstall the product using the installation file that you downloaded from your NortonLifeLock account. To know more, read Install Norton device security.
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v15972972
2) Yes, Norton should be doing automatic scans.
Is it possible to setup Live Update and Quick Scan to run automatically on a daily basis? If so how?
https://community.norton.com/en/forums/live-update-and-quick-scan
Further to peterweb's comments, background idletime Norton tasks like Automatic LiveUpdates and Quick Scans should be logged in your security history each time they run. The details in those history logs will tell you whether the tasks were run manually or automatically and whether the tasks finished successfully. See the support article Review Recent Norton Device Security Scan Results or Other Protection Updates on Your PC. The daily activity graph in the Events windows of your Norton Performance Graph should also display the number of times a QuickScan has run on your computer each day (see View Your System Activities).
If you find that background tasks like Automatic LiveUpdates and QuickScans aren't running on their own at least once a day that might mean that your system is not staying in idle mode long enough to allow these tasks to run to completion [note: background QuickScans may not be scheduled to run on a Saturday or Sunday since new SDS (virus) definition sets are posted less frequently on weekends and may not delivered to your local computer via a LiveUpdate those days]. In that case, you might be able to decrease the Idle Time Out setting in Norton (see the support article Set How Long Norton Waits to Run Tasks Once Your Computer is Idle) or adjust the settings in your computer's power plan so your computer stays in idle mode an extra 5 or 10 minutes longer before your computer enters sleep mode.
https://community.norton.com/en/comment/8447241#comment-8447241
If your system tray icon turns red again try peterweb's suggestion <above> and run the AutoFix diagnostic (see the support article Run Norton Autofix to Detect and Repair Problems with Norton Security) to see if it generates any warnings or error messages. Errors related to connection problems to Norton's backend servers can't always be fixed by AutoFix but a refresh of your Norton installation using the Norton Remove and Reinstall (NRnR) tool as instructed in the support article Download and Run the Norton Remove and Reinstall Tool will sometimes resolve these types of errors.
https://community.norton.com/en/comment/8449901#comment-8449901
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Posted: 20-May-2021 | 3:17PM · Permalink
Norton should automatically do a Quick Scan following each virus definition update. You will get this alert if a scan has not run in the past three days. This could be because your PC was off for that time, or possibly you have the Norton Idle Time Tasks setting set so high that the computer was never idle long enough to begin the scan. Set the Idle Time to one minute so that Norton can get cracking on the scan and other tasks as soon as the PC is idle.
Posted: 21-May-2021 | 5:56AM · Permalink
After uninstalling using the norton removal tool and then reinstalling, I can see that the basic scan is running overnight. I'll see if that stops the "attention Your PC needs to be scanned ..." notification.
I also found how to schedule a full scan in the options so I have that set up now as well. I'll monitor over the weekend to be sure that worked.
I couldn't find the idle time setting in the options, but that isn't as important to me as this is a work computer and I leave it on 24 / 7. so there is always lots of idle time available.
Posted: 21-May-2021 | 6:21AM · Edited: 21-May-2021 | 6:59AM · Permalink
DKuehner:
After uninstalling using the norton removal tool and then reinstalling, I can see that the basic scan is running overnight. I'll see if that stops the "attention Your PC needs to be scanned ..." notification.
I also found how to schedule a full scan in the options so I have that set up now as well. I'll monitor over the weekend to be sure that worked.
After fresh Norton install. Please run LiveUpdate until no updates found + machine Restart. Repeat.
After fresh Norton install allow Idle Time for Background Tasks to run.
LiveUpdate runs about every hour that your system is active. When LiveUpdate delivers new malware definitions. Quick Scan will run automatically.
My preference after fresh Norton install is to run one Full Scan. Quick Scans will run automatically with new malware definitions.
DKuehner:I couldn't find the idle time setting in the options, but that isn't as important to me as this is a work computer and I leave it on 24 / 7. so there is always lots of idle time available.
View or change Norton device security Administrative Settings
Norton device security Administrative Settings have defaults that maximize protection and performance for most users. In rare circumstances, you may want to customize settings for certain features and automated tasks.Access Administrative Settings
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https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-360/22.21.3.48/solutions/v19213721
Note: Administrative Settings page vertical scrollbar -
Learn more about Automatic Resume Delay From Sleep Or Hibernation
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-360/22.21.3.48/solutions/v39183704
Learn more about Automatic Tasks Delay
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-360/22.21.3.48/solutions/v23920742
Set how long Norton waits to run tasks once your computer is idle
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-360/22.21.3.48/solutions/v16052251
Posted: 21-May-2021 | 7:20AM · Permalink
bjm_
Thank you for the info. I think I am good now. I'll monitor the auto scan results to make sure everything is working. I've now seen the quick scans operating automatically and I have a full schedule scheduled for Saturday mornings so I'll see how that goes.
I've also changed the idle delay, although I doubt that will make a difference as I don't let my computer sleep or hibernate anyway.
I think I'm good now. Thank you all for your help.
Posted: 21-May-2021 | 7:56AM · Permalink
DKuehner:bjm_
Thank you for the info. I think I am good now. I'll monitor the auto scan results to make sure everything is working. I've now seen the quick scans operating automatically and I have a full schedule scheduled for Saturday mornings so I'll see how that goes.
I've also changed the idle delay, although I doubt that will make a difference as I don't let my computer sleep or hibernate anyway.
I think I'm good now. Thank you all for your help.
Thank you for your progress report.
Regards w Respect
Posted: 25-May-2021 | 11:31AM · Permalink
So, I thought this was solved. Tried all suggestions on this page including using the removal tool and then reinstalling.
I have figured out how to do a scheduled full scan - awesome, but the basic scan hasn't run for 5 days. When it did it once after reinstalling, I assumed the issue was fixed, but that is the only time its done the basic scan. I have several other computers and those seem to run the basic scan several times a day.
The computer I am working with is on 24/7 so it isn't an idle time issue. (I have set idle time to one minute). This computer does not sleep/hibernate. I leave it on over night to do backups, but those only run for several hours a night. The rest of the time is idle time.
Any other ideas?
Posted: 25-May-2021 | 11:36AM · Edited: 25-May-2021 | 11:55AM · Permalink
DKuehner:
[...], but the basic scan hasn't run for 5 days.
R U reporting Quick Scan not Completed for days?
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Posted: 25-May-2021 | 12:38PM · Permalink
Yes, the auto quick scan has not run for 5 days. When I look at the Security history and select Scan Results, I see only 3 entries. One quick scan after reinstalling Norton on May 20th, one "early launch anti-malware scan" an hour later, and then my scheduled full system scan on Saturday. Nothing else.
Where do you find the list of "back ground tasks" in your post above?
Posted: 25-May-2021 | 12:42PM · Permalink
Do you often run the full scan? It includes the Quick Scan, so might be the reason no standalone Quickies are running.
Posted: 25-May-2021 | 12:49PM · Edited: 25-May-2021 | 1:35PM · Permalink
DKuehner:Where do you find the list of "back ground tasks" in your post above?
Background tasks are the tasks that Norton runs during idle time. These tasks do not run when you use your computer. The tasks include Automatic LiveUpdate, Disk Optimizer, Full System Scan, Insight Optimizer, Norton Community Watch, Norton Insight, Internet Explorer History Cleaner, Internet Explorer Temporary File Cleaner, Quick Scan, and Windows Temporary File Cleaner.
You can use the Configure option to view the Background Tasks window to view and monitor all the Norton-specific background tasks. For each background task, you can view the date and time, duration, and the last run status. You can even run a specific task at any time. In addition, you can configure the power source for each background task.
By default, Norton performs the background tasks only when your computer is idle and connected to external power. If your computer is running on battery power, Norton does not run the background tasks. This way, Norton helps extend the battery power of your computer.
The tasks that appear in gray in the Background Tasks window cannot be run. These tasks are background maintenance tasks of Norton. You can only view the last run details for these activities.
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-360/22.21.3.48/solutions/v98421729
Posted: 25-May-2021 | 12:50PM · Permalink
I only just set up the full scan on Friday so I know that my computer is getting scanned at least once a week.
The quick scan has only run a few times since I installed norton a year ago. And those times were either just after install, or manually.
Posted: 25-May-2021 | 12:55PM · Edited: 25-May-2021 | 1:53PM · Permalink
DKuehner:I only just set up the full scan on Friday so I know that my computer is getting scanned at least once a week.
My preference is one manual Full Scan after fresh Norton 360 install. I do not schedule scans. Just me.
The quick scan has only run a few times since I installed norton a year ago. And those times were either just after install, or manually.
Sorry, I've no notion why Quick Scans has only run a few times....your machine.
Norton automatically updates virus definitions and regularly scans your PC for a range of threats.
Norton detects when you are away from your computer and automatically runs scans to assure that your system is regularly monitored for threats.
@DKuehner
With your Norton Uninstall / Install.
Did you run Remove Only ... then reinstall your Norton product using fresh download from your NortonLifeLock account?
Please advise Norton product name and version & Operating system?
Lets hear from Community
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Posted: 31-May-2021 | 6:06AM · Permalink
Well, I tried everything on this thread. I went through the support chat process (useless - the person was completely unfamiliar with the product). Spent a bunch of time on google. Nothing worked.
Then suddenly over the weekend, it magically started working. The only thing I can correlate with it starting to work is the scheduled full scan I set up for Saturday mornings. The quick scans started some time after that. Perhaps the full scan reset something deep down in the config. Who knows?
So, I guess I'm good until it magically decides to stop working again.
Re: How do I set up automatic virus scanning
Posted: 31-May-2021 | 6:06AM · Permalink
Well, I tried everything on this thread. I went through the support chat process (useless - the person was completely unfamiliar with the product). Spent a bunch of time on google. Nothing worked.
Then suddenly over the weekend, it magically started working. The only thing I can correlate with it starting to work is the scheduled full scan I set up for Saturday mornings. The quick scans started some time after that. Perhaps the full scan reset something deep down in the config. Who knows?
So, I guess I'm good until it magically decides to stop working again.