Intelligent skip scanning

Should I turn off intelligent skip scanning?  Based on the help file turning on intelligent skip scanning makes Norton skip non common file types that virus can infect.  So it can lay dormant in those file types.

 

 

Intelligent Skip Scanning

Norton Internet Security extracts and scans maximum of 2-GB data from a compressed file. This way, Intelligent Skip Scanning prevents the scan from being stuck up with a single compressed file that contains a large amount of data. Therefore, Norton Internet Security scans your computer faster.

By default, the Intelligent Skip Scanning option is turned on.

When Intelligent Skip Scanning is on, Norton Internet Security does not scan some of the common non-container files types that are available on your disk. The commonly available non-container file that Norton Internet Security skips are .dll, .gif, .png, .jpg, .asf, .avi, .bmp, .htm, .ini, .css, .cur, .fon, .ico, .inf, .sys, .ttf, and .wav.

If a container file appears in a non-container file format Norton Internet Security considers it as a non-container file and skips the file from scanning. For example, rename a .zip container file with threats to .bmp, which is a non-container file extension. Norton Internet Security considers it as a non-container file and skips the file from scanning. Also, Norton Internet Security does not scan these common non-container files that you receive through email or IM when the option is turned on.

When you turn off the Intelligent Skip Scanning option, Norton Internet Security scans files of all types, regardless of their extension

Should I turn off intelligent skip scanning?  Based on the help file turning on intelligent skip scanning makes Norton skip non common file types that virus can infect.  So it can lay dormant in those file types.

 

 

Intelligent Skip Scanning

Norton Internet Security extracts and scans maximum of 2-GB data from a compressed file. This way, Intelligent Skip Scanning prevents the scan from being stuck up with a single compressed file that contains a large amount of data. Therefore, Norton Internet Security scans your computer faster.

By default, the Intelligent Skip Scanning option is turned on.

When Intelligent Skip Scanning is on, Norton Internet Security does not scan some of the common non-container files types that are available on your disk. The commonly available non-container file that Norton Internet Security skips are .dll, .gif, .png, .jpg, .asf, .avi, .bmp, .htm, .ini, .css, .cur, .fon, .ico, .inf, .sys, .ttf, and .wav.

If a container file appears in a non-container file format Norton Internet Security considers it as a non-container file and skips the file from scanning. For example, rename a .zip container file with threats to .bmp, which is a non-container file extension. Norton Internet Security considers it as a non-container file and skips the file from scanning. Also, Norton Internet Security does not scan these common non-container files that you receive through email or IM when the option is turned on.

When you turn off the Intelligent Skip Scanning option, Norton Internet Security scans files of all types, regardless of their extension

I'm not talking about compressed file scanning but rather intelligent skip scanning.  I want NIS to fully scan all compressed files fully. Is this the correct setting? I turned off the compressed file skipping (so that it would scan all of the ZIP file not just the first 2GB of it) in NIS10 and faced no problems.

Hi Tywin7,

 

I understand you are asking about Intelligent Skip scanning but it also falls under the umbrella of Compressed file scanning which is why this option is greyed out when you turn off Compressed file scanning.

 

You mentioned having Compressed file scanning OFF in NIS 2010. Turning this off means that compressed files will not be scanned at all.

 

Intelligent Skip scanning is new to NIS 2011 and I believe it was added as an extra level of granularity. From looking at Help, turning this OFF will cause the entire compressed file to be scanned instead of just the first 2GB.

 

I'll look around and see if I can find a more expanded explanation of this.

 

But to get what you want based on your description, you should turn ON compressed file scanning and turn OFF intelligent skip scanning.

 

Hope this helps and I'll post back if I find additional information on intelligent skip scanning.

 

Best wishes.
Allen

No there was a similar option in NIS10 (not quite sure what's the name) where turning it on only extracts the first 2GB of it.  I think its below compressed file scan.  So scan all compressed file fully, not only the first 2gb

Hi Tywin7,

 

Now I kind of wish I had kept NIS 2010 on one of my 3 computers. :smileyhappy: I don't recall this secondary option in 2010 but my memory is already starting to fade I think. :smileywink:

 

Anyway, turning ON compressed file scanning and turning OFF intelligent skip scanning should cause the entire compressed file to be scanned.

 

So far I have not found an expanded explanation of this though, beyond what is in help that is.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

@ AllenM :smileyhappy:

NIS10

Compressed Files Scan

Scans and repairs the files inside compressed files

By default, Compressed Files Scan option is turned on. In this case, Norton Internet Security scans and detects viruses and other security risks in the files within compressed files.

The other options in this section are configurable only when you turn on the Compressed Files Scan option. These settings include the following:

  • Data Extraction Limit

    Norton Internet Security extracts and scans maximum of 2-GB data from a compressed file. This way, Data Extraction Limit prevents the scan from being stuck up with a single compressed file that contains a large amount of data.

  • Remove Infected Compressed Files

    You can turn on this option if you want Norton Internet Security to delete the infected compressed files automatically from your computer. However, Norton Internet Security gives you the greatest control over low-risk items and the items that require your attention. Norton Internet Security provides this control when the Low Risks option, under Computer Scans is configured to Ask Me.

You receive many compressed files that are infected through email messages or through Internet download. Keep this feature turned on to ensure that Norton Internet Security checks and deletes the compressed files that are infected

By automatically scanning all compressed files, Norton Internet Security maintains a higher level of security

Hi Bjm_,

 

Now how could I have let that option slip my mind? Oh well...:smileywink:

 

Tywin7, does this answer your question about how to achieve complete scanning of your compressed files?

 

Best wishes.

Allen

Hello Community

pardon my Topic piggyback so to speak...

My non geek simplistic understanding is that a container file is a single file that has more than one file type in it

& a container file may be compressed (zip'd) or not compressed. 

A non-container file is a file that has one file type in it

& a non-container file may be compressed (zip'd) or not compressed. 

 

re > When Intelligent Skip Scanning is on, Norton Internet Security does not scan some of the common non-container files types that are available on your disk.

Why would any user want (by default) Norton to not scan common non-container files types.

 

I never questioned (to myself) NIS10 Help Center Compressed Files Scan options.

NIS11 Help Center Compressed Files Scan options has me asking myself questions. 

I may be mixing apples and oranges to make fruit salad ;-) ... but,

How does Norton scan common non-container files types that may just happen be not compressed.

Tywin7 has me scratching my head in a good way ;-))

Cheers

The skip scanning is for the 2011 version while the extraction limit is for the 2010. The skip scanning is an extension of the extraction limit, which I have also switched of in nis10 before upgrading. I want nis to scan the whole compressed file. Don’t know how nis10 responds to non compressed containers.

hi there,

 

regarding this feature:

 

Norton Internet Security extracts and scans maximum of 2-GB data from a compressed file. This way, Intelligent Skip Scanning prevents the scan from being stuck up with a single compressed file that contains a large amount of data. Therefore, Norton Internet Security scans your computer faster.

 

 

-------------------

 

there are some error reports :

 

If the zipped file  is larger then 2 GB, and a threat is detected,  the zipped file is deleted right away, without prompting and it is not moved to the quarantine.  The tricky part is, IF the file size exceeds 2 GB, the file is deleted even if the option "Remove Infected Compressed Files " is turned OFF.

 

I will test it myself on a virtual machine, but meanwhile, is the issue known ? are you in the need of further details for analyzing ?

 

 

 

Furthermore I would suggest to add a prompt like this before the file is quarantined or deleted :

 

http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-Product-Ideas/Let-the-user-decide-whether-or-not-to-quarantine-a-file/idc-p/307812#M1065

 

the idea was posted on 10-09-2010

 

best regards

John