Make a full Scan and look at the watch.
Total items scanned: 1.045.171
Time needed : 68 minutes
Hi Mith,
Skipped files are files that were checked in a previous scan and found to be clean. As long as they are not modified, they will not be scanned again unless, and until, a new virus definition signaure update is obtained through LiveUpdate. Skipping files is a method of reducing scan time and conserving system resources - in no way does it lessen your security. I'm not sure why tracking cookies were not found on your initial scan, although some of the automatic Quick Scans do not even look for tracking cookies, since they do not pose any real danger to your system. Tracking cookies are considered by some people to have possible privacy implications, but they will not damage your computer, nor will they steal information. Setting the Scan Performance Profile to "Full Scan" will configure Norton to scan all files, even Trusted Files. This is an option that you obviously desire to use, but it is not the default, because it increases scan times with little or no security benefit. By all means, choose whichever settings you feel most comfortable with (that's why they're there), but do not be misled about the performance-enhancing improvements in scanning technology - they are not flaws in the program.
You said yourself " I'm not sure why tracking cookies were not found on your initial scan". This is the issue. I updated Norton 360, then I started and completed a Full Scan (default settings), and then changed 2 settings for the Full Scan and scanned again and the results were different.
Assuming I made no error (which I don't see how I could, and even if I did it would be an error that any other reasonable person could make), the Full Scan on default settings did not do a full scan of my entire computer, no matter which way you look at it.
All I request is that the future default settings for Full Scan do a comprehensive scan of the entire computer. I don't think it's unreasonable, and I can only imagine any other reasonable person that paid for their product would like to comprehensively scan their computer without having to change settings (and they possibly wouldn't know what settings to change) and jump through hoops.
Hi,
A "full scan" doesn't mean that 100% of the files are scanned 100% of the time. With each 'full' scan Norton marks those that have not changed since the last scan and skips them if the mark is still present the next time it performs a 'full' scan. This scan technique is used for the quick scan feature also. The design allows Norton to complete the task more quickly that a dumb full scan which looks at 100% of the files 100% of the time.
With the total number of files being placed on drives by the operating system and the various other programs we use regularly this 'mark and skip' technique keeps Norton efficient and allows me [and you] to continue using our systems with fewer dealys for maintenance.
I, for one, would object if Norton were to revert to the old scan method of checking 100% of the files 100% of the time.
To each his/her own
Stay well and surf safe
I am not sure why tracking cookies were not detected because I do not know what your browser privacy settings are, how you have configured your Norton tracking cookie scan setting, whether cookies were recreated between scans, or if you have other software installed that blocks or removes these cookies. There are numerous possible reasons why they would not be detected on one scan, yet show up on another. It is also possible that they were detected, and they may have been deleted without fanfare. As mentioned, tracking cookies are not harmful and they may be removed without interrupting the user with a notification, depending on your settings. Have you checked the scan history log for your initial scan to see if tracking were removed silently?
Much has changed in recent years, and Full System Scans have become not only less important (now recommended monthly, not weekly) but also more sophisticated. It is no longer necessary to scan every file, when many files are already known to be completely safe. Therefore the default setting for Full Scans is a compromise that provides a high level of security while maintaining system performance by not wasting resources on redundant or unnecessary file scans. Users who prefer to trade off the performance advantages for the sake of a full and complete scan of every file on the system can configure the program to do so, but this is not the default because it is not necessary for safety, and the performance impact would be unacceptable to most users.
If I wanted a scan to skip files I'd do a quick scan. It makes no sense to have two separate scans, when neither of them do the entire job.
Again, Scan Performance Profiles are configurable, giving the user the option to select the right balance of file checking and system performance to meet their needs. The default is based on the idea that it is not necessary to scan all files - that continually rescanning unchanged files that are already known to be clean is a waste of time and resources. Skipping unmodified known good files is not a safety concern because repeatedly scanning them will always return the same clean results anyway. And Full System Scans will not detect any active threats that would not also be found by a Quick Scan. But there certainly are users who are willing to sacrifice a bit of performance for the sake of a more complete scan, and the settings allow that - so I am a bit unclear on the point of this discussion. There are a number of Norton default settings that do not suit my needs or preferences either, and I routinely change them - we all have differing comfort levels when it comes to choices regarding security versus convenience or usability.
Hello Johnnyboyz. I'm following up to see if your issue was resolved.
Cheers
Hello Johnnyboyz The short answer for you is NO. Your scan may have completed however access to the internet is required due to the combination of local definitions with those in the cloud for better detection. Though this article from a previous post is older it is still valid: https://community.norton.com/en/comment/6677301#comment-6677301
You will need to find internet access and re-run a complete scan while connected. Hope this answers your question appropriately.
Cheers