McAfee AVDCDE-BA-CA User Guide - Page 27

About VirusScan Software Still others open "back doors" into desktop systems or create security holes in a way that closely resembles a deliberate attempt at network penetration, rather than the more random mayhem that most viruses tend to leave in their wakes. The latest VirusScan software releases, as a consequence, do not simply wait for viruses to appear on your system, they scan proactively at the source or work to deflect hostile agents away from your system. The VShield scanner that comes with VirusScan software has three modules that concentrate on agents that arrive from the Internet, that spread via e-mail, or that lurk on Internet sites. It can look for particular Java and ActiveX objects that pose a threat, or block access to dangerous Internet sites. Meanwhile, an E-Mail Scan extension to Microsoft Exchange e-mail clients, such as Microsoft Outlook, can "x-ray" your mailbox on the server, looking for malicious agents before they arrive on your desktop. VirusScan software even protects itself against attempts to use its own functionality against your computer. Some virus writers embed their viruses inside documents that, in turn, they embed in other files in an attempt to evade detection. Still others take this technique to an absurd extreme, constructing highly recursive-and very large-compressed archive files in an attempt to tie up the scanner as it digs through the file looking for infections. VirusScan software accurately scans the majority of popular compressed file and archive file formats, but it also includes logic that keeps it from getting trapped in an endless hunt for a virus chimera. What comes with VirusScan software? VirusScan software consists of several components that combine one or more related programs, each of which play a part in defending your computer against viruses and other malicious software. The components are: • The VirusScan application. This component gives you unmatched control over your scanning operations. You can configure and start a scan operation at any time-a feature known as "on-demand" scanning- specify local and network disks as scan targets, tell the application how to respond to any infections it finds, and see reports on its actions. You can start with the VirusScan Classic window, a basic configuration mode, then move to the VirusScan Advanced mode for maximum flexibility. A related Windows shell extension lets you right-click any object on your system to scan it. See "Using the VirusScan application" on page 161 for details. • The VirusScan Console. This component allows you to create, configure and run VirusScan tasks at times you specify. A "task" can include anything from running a scan operation on a set of disks at a specific time or interval, to running an update or upgrade operation. You can also enable or disable the VShield scanner from the Console window. User's Guide 27