I'm trying to permanently delete items in Quarantine, not just clear the logs or history, I want the actual files removed from my computer. When I go to the Quarantine folder, I don't see any option to delete the files but I do see an option to "Clear Entries." After clicking "Clear Entries" it says:
"Are you sure you wish to clear all Security Risks logs? This action will remove all logs and backup information related to resolved Security Risks."
As I mentioned, I don't want to just remove the logs and backup information. I want the actual files to be deleted from my computer. Will the "Clear Entries" actually delete the files or just the logs? If it's just the logs, then how do I delete the actual files?
Outlier:
So if I go into Security History, go to the Quarantine dropdown, then click "Remove from history" for each and every one of the items, can someone say with certainty that the actual files will be deleted from my computer?
I'll stand by my earlier message until I hear otherwise:
Remove From History - will remove the entry in Quarantine and the linked Quarantine files in QBackup.
Clear Entries - removes the current list of Quarantined Items in the Security History Log but does not remove the files in the QBackup directory.
Outlier:
I just want a clean house.
Just remove Norton -> scour File Explorer for remnants -> run a registry cleaner tool -> Restart (not Shut down) machine twice. Pull fresh Norton installer from your Norton account.
My tracking cookies setting is set to "Remove". I think I've built up alot of files in QBackup because I have several email accounts that I've had for years and they get spam every day.
The bottom line is that I don't want any potentially malicious file in my computer anywhere, even if it's in quarantine. Say you have a lot of insects and bugs in your house that you kill with bug spray (Norton). Then you put all the dead bugs in a box somewhere (quarantine). You just don't want that box of dead bugs hanging around in your house somewhere. You want to get rid of it. That's my mindset. There's also the possibility of a future malicious script that takes items out of quarantine and activates the malicious files. Who knows? I just want a clean house.
So if I go into Security History, go to the Quarantine dropdown, then click "Remove from history" for each and every one of the items, can someone say with certainty that the actual files will be deleted from my computer? Or is it just the "history" that's removed? It's confusing because they're calling it "Remove from history". Why don't they call it "Remove from computer" or simply "Delete File"?
as test: ran Clear List (did not have any Clear Entries) then deleted my QBackup files to Recycle Bin.
Note: on my machine QBackup folder nor index.qbs can be deleted (with Norton installed).
Note: after machine Restart
I'm trying to imagine how you amassed all those files. Tracking Cookies is just a guess. IDK what does Norton does with Tracking Cookies. My preference is Ignore. I don't want Norton clearing my persistent login cookies. I don't want Norton doing any so called performance tasks. Just me. Maybe, you're wanting to learn whats what with Security History Quarantine & QBackup.
I know what I've shared and no more.
My suggestion...if you're wanting to learn whats what.
Clear List & Clear Entries and see what happens to your QBackup.
You will not remove mission critical items with Clear List & Clear Entries.
I've not manually removed QBackup files since that old related Topic.
@Outlier
Please check your Community Inbox. Thanks
So for 1 of the items in quarantine, I chose the option to "Remove from history." The QBackup folder reduced from 8640 files to 8629 files. If I did the same with all of the 21 remaining items in quarantine, I think there would still be thousands of files remaining in that folder. So that begs the question, other than the items in quarantine what else does the QBackup folder contain? Anything important that can be deleted?
I'm not sure if I allow Norton to remove tracking cookies. Where would I see that setting?
All: You cannot delete the aforementioned files in qbackup. Norton will not allow the proper administrative permission for that. I have 17 +mb of files in over 2 dozen folders there and cannot remove them. Clearing your entire FULL Norton history will remove the files. There should only be 1 qbs file remaining.
Outlier:
My Norton was installed in April of 2020, so it's been installed about 1 year and 7 months. Is 8640 files in the Qbackup folder unusual? It's 8640 files, 2821 folders but the size is relatively small, only 32.7 MB.
Another reason why I'm concerned about deleting the QBackup folder is because in the Quarantine dropdown section in Security History, it only shows 22 items in quarantine. How does that square up with 8640 files in the QBackup folder?
Hmm....I've never had but a handful of items with Security History -> Quarantine. And I do testing. I'll Clear Lists &or Clear Entries when I'm done with Quarantine items.
Sorry, I've no idea how 22 items in Quarantine squares with 8640 QBackup folder files.
You can clear your Security History. You can Clear Lists &or Clear Entries to clean up History. You can temporary turn off Tamper Protection -> Delete QBackup.
Or, refresh your Norton install thru clean uninstall -> scour File Explorer -> run registry cleaner -> fresh install. I'm not gauge for what's average for 1 year 7 months. I'll refresh my Norton install ~ twice a year. Just me.
I'll bet users go long time sans Quarantine event. And some users bump into stuff. I'll test stuff... so, I have Quarantine events. @Outlier
Security History ... 22 items in Quarantine with 8640 files in the QBackup folder ... feels like a lot.
Curious, do you allow Norton to remove Tracking cookies?
Another reason why I’m concerned about deleting the QBackup folder is because in the Quarantine dropdown section in Security History, it only shows 22 items in quarantine. How does that square up with 8640 files in the QBackup folder?
My Norton was installed in April of 2020, so it's been installed about 1 year and 7 months. Is 8640 files in the Qbackup folder unusual? It's 8640 files, 2821 folders but the size is relatively small, only 32.7 MB.
I read that other thread, so I just wanted to double confirm, that Qbackup folder contains only quarantined files and deleting that folder won't delete any important Norton files?
What data is contained in the Quarantined files - the actual files / virus / malware that was removed, also data as to where the file / malware was located at the time of removal and particular characteristics about this malware.
What exactly are these files in the QBackup folder? Are these all quarantined files? I have 8640 files in that folder and if they're all quarantined files, then I want to delete that entire folder. But are there also some important necessary files in that folder as well?
Will manually deleting files in this folder also delete them from the history in Norton?
If the user opts to "Remove from History", then the files associated with that item are permanently deleted (by Norton, not Windows) from the QBackup area and Quarantine. They do not exist anymore on that system. There is no rescanning to take place as the files / item do not exist in the system anymore. The rescanning of the Quarantine area is automatic and Norton does this without user intervention as part of the entire Quarantine Processing Routines. [...]
Norton scans the Quarantine area once a week to check that something in Quarantine still belongs there. If the scanned folder is now found to be safe, Norton will offer to restore the files. So Norton may remove the files there if it finds that everything is OK now or a user can choose to delete the folders / files themselves. [...]
QBackup folder (Quarantine Backup) is used by Norton AntiVirus component to store backup recoveries of repaired and removed threats when you fix/remove threats during the scan. It may also contain information about threats detected and retains the remediated data in your computer itself. You can remove that folder (if it is consuming more memory) after disabling the Product Tamper Protection. [...]
So do I have to go one by one for each quarantined file and click "Remove from history" to completely and permanently delete the file from my computer? Are you sure this completely deletes the file because it does say "Remove from history", it doesn't say "Remove from computer".
Also, if I did click "Clear Entries" in the past but those files are still on my computer, then how do I go about deleting those particular files since I can no longer see them in my history?
FWIW ~ for Security History -> Quarantine.
I'll run "Clear Entries" when I'm sure I'm done with items in Quarantine and let Norton housekeeping deal with QBackup.
Remove From History - will remove the entry in Quarantine and the linked Quarantine files in QBackup.
Clear Entries - removes the current list of Quarantined Items in the Security History Log but does not remove the files in the QBackup directory.
Maybe, you're wanting to learn whats what with Security History Quarantine & QBackup.
SA
