Custom scans

Access this feature from: Protection ▸ Scans ▸ Custom scans

The Custom scans screen enables you to create a new scan and define each of the parameters to suit your individual requirements.

Scan Parameters

To customize Scan Parameters for new custom scans, click Create A New Scan. The Scan Parameters screen allows you to set or change the scope of antivirus scans which can be run from Protection ▸ Scans. After making any changes, click OK to save your scan settings.

Note: although customizable settings are available for some predefined scans, we recommend you only modify settings for Custom scans.

Name your scan

In the Scan section, provide a name and description for your scan.

For Custom scans, this information appears on the list available from Protection ▸ Scans ▸ Custom scans, so that you can easily recognize it.

Define scan areas

In Scan areas, use the drop-down menu to select the data space you want the scan to analyze. You can choose to scan any of the following areas:

  • Storage drives and removable media: the options in this section apply to data that is stored on physical devices such as hard disks and USB sticks.
  • Auto-start programs and modules loaded in memory: the options in this section apply to applications and processes that launch after system startup or run in the background.
  • Interactive selection: this option prompts you to specify a location on your PC each time you run the scan.
  • Rootkits: select from levels of thoroughness with Rootkits full scan being the most thorough but slowest option.

To add another area to the list, click Add. To remove an area, click the relevant row, then click Delete.

Specify file types

In File types, configure your scan to analyze all files within the defined area by selecting Scan all files (slowest). Alternatively, configure your scan to only analyze files that are typically vulnerable to malware by selecting one of the following options:

  • Content (slow): the scan determines the format of each file according to its content, then scans the files identified as typically vulnerable to malware. This option is useful if file content differs from the extension type in the file name.
  • Name extension (fast): the scan analyzes only files with risky extension types in the file name, such as .exe, .com, .bat. Alternatively you can specify the extension types you want the scan to analyze by clicking Add. In this case, only the specified extension types are scanned.

Note: For new custom scans, Content is selected by default as it provides the optimal balance between thoroughness and speed. Scan all files is the most thorough option, but also the slowest.

Create a Custom scan

Click Create a New Scan to add a personalized scan. In the window that opens, define your scan then click OK. Read more...

Each scan you create appears as a row on the Custom scans screen.

Manage a Custom scan

To start a scan, go to Protection ▸ Scans ▸ Custom Scan, then click Run a Scan in the relevant row. If a scan is already running, click Running in the relevant row to see the scan progress. After a scan is complete, you can review your scan results. Read more...

Additionally, click the gear icon next to a scan on the list to access the following options:

  • Schedule: allows you to specify when and how often the scan runs. Read more...
  • Settings: allows you to modify scan settings. Read more...
  • Delete: removes the scan from the list.

Run a Quick Scan

Quick Scan is a pre-defined custom scan which analyzes potentially risky file types located on the main drive of your PC, where system files are stored. Quick Scan also scans auto-start programs and all known types of rootkits.

To run Quick Scan, click Run a Scan in the relevant row. After the scan is complete, you can review your scan results.