16
Real-time Protection
EZ Antivirus automatically checks all files accessed, and all incoming email messages for viruses.
Throughout this chapter, the term
real-time protection
applies to real-time file and email scanning.
The real-time protection is the most vital antivirus component. It is actively scanning all your files
and emails in the background as you use your computer.
Settings for the real-time protection are controlled by the
Scan Settings
dialog mentioned earlier.
The
Scan Settings
dialog box is initiated by opening EZ Antivirus and selecting the
Virus
Scanning
tab, then clicking the
Scan Settings
button.
What gets scanned?
By default, the real-time protection is enabled and actively scanning. This scanning will occur
from the moment you restart your computer after the initial installation, until you disable a
particular real-time scanning component, or uninstall the product. This means that every time you
access a file, or receive an email, EZ Antivirus will automatically check it, to make sure it is not
malicious.
Real-time File Scanner
The real-time file scanner scans all items you access. For example:
•
Documents you may be working on.
•
Web pages you visit.
•
New software you install.
•
Files you load from disks or CDs.
Real-time Email Scanner
The real-time email scanner scans all emails that are delivered to you. For example:
•
Emails containing an infected file attachment.
•
Email sent in HTML format containing scripts.
•
Worms attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in software.
The Infection Report Window
As mentioned above, EZ Antivirus will display a window when an infection is detected. This is
displayed every time the real-time protection detects an infected item.
Hyperlinks used to link to virus
information in the Computer
Associates Virus Encyclopedia
