Set real-time scanning options

Real-time scanning options define what McAfee looks for during a real-time scan, as well as the locations and file types it scans. Options include scanning for unknown viruses and tracking cookies, buffer overflow protection, and removable media drives.

You can set up real-time scanning to check network drives and scan for viruses by identifying threat patterns. You can even connect to an online community within McAfee to incorporate the most current information on potentially unwanted programs and emerging threats.

Open the Real-Time Scanning settings page.

How?

Under File Types, specify the file types you want to scan each time they are accessed.

To...	Do this...
Detect suspicious activity at all potential points of entry	Select All files.
Scan for viruses in program and document files	Select Programs and documents.

Under Locations, specify the locations you want to scan each time they are accessed.

To...	Do this...
Detect activity from viruses and other threats in the email you send and receive	Select Email attachments.
Detect activity from viruses and other threats in the instant messaging attachments you send and receive	Select Instant messaging attachments.
Detect activity from viruses and other threats in your network drives, as well as your local hard drives	Select Network drives.

Under Threats, specify the threat types you want to scan for in files each time the files are accessed.

To...	Do this...
Detect tracking cookies that monitor your web browsing habits	Select Tracking cookies.
Detect spyware and other potentially unwanted programs	Select Spyware and other potentially unwanted programs.
Detect malicious scripts running in Internet Explorer and Firefox	Select Scripts in Internet Explorer and Firefox.
Protect your PC from buffer overflows	Select Buffer overflows.

Under Extended Protection, specify the additional protection options you would like to include in real-time scanning.

To...	Do this...
Get immediate protection against emerging threats	Select Active Protection delivers real-time defense against the latest viruses, spyware, and threats directly to your PC.
Detect unknown viruses	Select Scan for viruses by identifying threat patterns.

Under Removable Media Drives, specify how you want McAfee to scan removable media drives when you connect them to your PC.

To...	Do this...
Be prompted to scan thoroughly every time you connect a removable media drive to your PC	Select Ask me before scanning it thoroughly
Scan your removable media drive automatically	Select Scan it automatically
Scan the files in your removable media drive as you open them	Select Do nothing and let real-time scanning check my files as I use them

Click Apply to save your settings.

Use caution when changing real-time scanning options from the default settings, because it can make your PC vulnerable to certain threats.