Jan052012

Are all user accounts scanned for viruses when scanning in Safe Mode?

Kamil asks:

I have a general anti-viral question. My PC running Windows XP has two user accounts – mine (administrator) and my niece’s (standard). If run an anti-viral program in Safe Mode under my account, will it also scan her account since I am an administrative account?


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  • Jeff Fabish January 6, 2012

    Kamil,

    This greatly depends on which anti-virus you’re using. Predominantly, yes, an anti-virus will scan all files that the user has access to (including users public files and system folders).  

    • Koz83 January 6, 2012

      I was thinking about Avast and Malwarebytes.

      • Jeff Fabish January 6, 2012

        As long as you’re logged in as an administrator, they both will perform scanning on all users public & private files. Otherwise, if you scan as a standard user, it may only can other users public files.

        • Koz83 January 6, 2012

          So if I understand you correctly, scanning from the administrative account will also scan the standard user, yes?

          • Jeff Fabish January 6, 2012

            That is correct (:

          • Koz83 January 6, 2012

            Great, thank you :)

  • FIDELIS January 6, 2012

    Hello, as long as choose a full scan and make sure that both accounts are selected, yes.

    • Koz83 January 6, 2012

      How do you select two accounts?  In Avast or Malwarebytes?

  • FIDELIS January 6, 2012

    Hello, if there is only one harddrive in computer, as long as you select complete scan for C: drive, it will scan both accounts.  If there is more than one harddrive, select both for full scans. 

  • Anonymous January 6, 2012

    perhaps if you boot with a live cd of avast things can get more accurate

    concerning malwarebytes here is a discussion
    http://www.technibble.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-4860.html

  • Johnrich January 20, 2012

    I was having a number of problems with Mail-washer and Firefox so optimistically I tried an Avast Boot Scan.Miraculously this apparently removed problems , speed-ed up computer and allowed me to download Mail attachments.
    Was I just lucky, I just don’t know!

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