In addition to the real-time computer protection provided by File Anti-Virus and Web Anti-Virus, you are advised to regularly scan your computer for viruses and other computer security threats. Computer scanning is necessary to prevent the spread of malware that has not been detected by the protection components.
Kaspersky Endpoint Security contains the following built-in virus scan tasks:
-
Full Scan.A virus scan of memory, startup objects, and all internal drives of the computer.
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Quick Scan.A virus scan of only critical areas of the computer: memory, startup objects, and system folders.
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Custom Scan.A virus scan of a specified object (file, folder, drive, or removable drive).
Each scan task is performed within a specified scan scope and is started manually. Malicious objects are recognized through signature analysis. In addition to signature analysis, Kaspersky Endpoint Security uses heuristic analysis and other scanning technologies.
Start Full Scan and Quick Scan tasks
- Open the main application window and click
.The Virus Scan window opens.
- In the Virus Scan window, click the Full Scan or Quick Scan button.
The scan task starts.
Start a Custom Scan task
- Open the main application window and click
.
The Virus Scan window opens.
- To start the Custom Scan task, do one of the following:
- Drag a file or folder to the To scan files and folders, drag them onto this window pane.
- Click the Choose button and open a file or folder.
The scan task starts.
Stop a virus scan task
- Open the main application window and click
.
The Virus Scan window opens.
- In the Virus Scan window, click the Stop button next to the scan task that you want to stop.
The confirmation dialog opens.
- In the confirmation dialog, click the Stop button.
The scan task stops.
You can also configure the Full Scan and Quick Scan tasks to run automatically according to a specified schedule.
Configure Full Scan and Quick Scan schedule preferences
- Open the main application window.
- On the navigation panel in the upper pane of the main application window, click the
button.The application preferences window opens.
- On the Virus Scan tab, in the list on the left, select Full Scan or Quick Scan.
- In the Schedule section, select a checkbox corresponding to a configured schedule for the selected virus scan task.
- To change the virus scan task schedule, click the Schedule button.
A window opens, in which you can configure the virus scan task schedule.
- Specify the virus scan task launch frequency and time.
- Click the Save button to save changes made to the virus scan task schedule.
The Full Scan and Quick Scan tasks already contain scan scopes. While performing the Full Scan task, Kaspersky Endpoint Security scans memory, startup objects, and all internal drives of the computer. While performing the Quick Scan task, Kaspersky Endpoint Security scans computer memory, startup objects, and system folders. You can change the scan scope of the Full Scan and Quick Scan tasks.
Add/remove a file or folder to/from the scan scopes of the Full Scan and Quick Scan tasks
- Open the main application window.
- On the navigation panel in the upper pane of the main application window, click the
button.
The application preferences window opens.
- On the Virus Scan tab, in the list on the left, select the Full Scan or Quick Scan task.
- In the Scan scope section, click the Edit button.
A window with the list of Full Scan or Quick Scan task scan scope objects opens.
- Edit the list of scan scope objects:
- To add a file or folder to the scan scope:
- Click the
button.A drop-down list where you can select objects to add to the scan scope opens.
- In the drop-down list, choose the File or Folder item.
A dialog where you can select a file or folder opens.
- Select a file or folder that you want to add to the scan scope.
- Click the Open button.
- To remove a file or folder from the scan scope:
- Select an object that you want to remove.
- Drag the selected object from the window or click the
button.
- Click the Save button.
Add an object from the default list of Full Scan and Quick Scan objects to the scan scope
- Open the main application window.
- On the navigation panel in the upper pane of the main application window, click the
button.
The application preferences window opens.
- On the Virus Scan tab, in the list on the left, select the Full Scan or Quick Scan task.
- In the Scan scope section, click the Edit button.
A window with the list of objects in the scan scope opens.
- Click the
button.
A drop-down list where you can select objects to add to the scan scope opens.
- In the drop-down list, select an object that you want to add to the scan scope (for example, Memory).
- Click the OK button.
Disable protection of an object in the Full Scan or Quick Scan task scan scope
- Open the main application window.
- On the navigation panel in the upper pane of the main application window, click the
button.
The application preferences window opens.
- On the Virus Scan tab, in the list on the left, select the Full Scan or Quick Scan task.
- In the Scan scope section, click the Edit button.
A window with the list of scan scope objects opens.
- Deselect the checkbox next to the object in the list of scan scope objects.
- Click the OK button.
For each scan task you can choose one of the preset security levels:
- Maximum protection – a security level ensuring a full scan of the entire computer or individual disks, folders, or files. This security level is recommended when you suspect that the computer is infected.
- Recommended – a security level with the preferences recommended by Kaspersky Lab.
- Maximum speed – this security level enables you to use other applications that require significant system resources, since the scope of files scanned at this security level is smaller.
By default, virus scan tasks are performed at the Recommended security level. You can increase or decrease the thoroughness of the scan by selecting Maximum protection or Maximum speed, respectively. You can also edit the preferences of the current security level. This will change the name of the security level to Custom.
Select the security level
- Open the main application window.
- On the navigation panel in the upper pane of the main application window, click the
button.
The application preferences window opens.
- On the Virus Scan tab, select the name of the virus scan task in the task list on the left.
- In the Security level section, move the slider to the required position.
Changing the security level changes the balance between scan speed and the total number of files scanned: the fewer files scanned for viruses, the higher the scan speed.
Edit the preferences of the current security level
- Open the main application window.
- On the navigation panel in the upper pane of the main application window, click the
button.
The application preferences window opens.
- On the Virus Scan tab in the application preferences window, select the name of the virus scan task in the task list on the left.
- In the Security level section, click the Preferences button.
A window opens, in which you can edit the preferences of the current security level.
- In the window that opens, edit the security level preferences:
- In the File types section, select the types of files that should be scanned by Kaspersky Endpoint Security when running the virus scan task.
- In the Optimization section, select or deselect checkboxes and specify the relevant values in the entry fields to configure the preferences for scan performance and use of iSwift technology.
- In the Compound files section, select or deselect checkboxes next to the types of compound files to be scanned.
- In the Heuristic analyzer section, select or deselect the Use Heuristic Analyzer checkbox. If the checkbox is selected, move the slider up or down the scale to select the level of heuristic analysis during virus scan tasks.
- Click OK to save changes made to the security level preferences.
Restore default scan preferences
- Open the main application window.
- On the navigation panel in the upper pane of the main application window, click the
button.
The application preferences window opens.
- On the Virus Scan tab in the application preferences window, select the name of the virus scan task in the task list on the left.
- In the Security level section, click the Default button.
This restores the recommended virus scan task preferences. The name of the security level changes to Recommended.
Upon detecting an infected object, the application displays a notification prompting the user to select the action to be taken on the object. You can modify the action to perform when an object is detected.
If a threat is detected in a file, Kaspersky Endpoint Security identifies the type of the detected malicious program (for example, virus or Trojan).
Select the action to take on objects during scanning
- Open the main application window.
- On the navigation panel in the upper pane of the main application window, click the
button.
The application preferences window opens.
- On the Virus Scan tab, select the name of the virus scan task in the task list on the left.
- In the Action section, select the action for Kaspersky Endpoint Security to perform on the detected malicious object.
Before disinfecting or deleting an infected file, Kaspersky Endpoint Security saves a copy of it in Backup so you can restore the original file, if necessary.
Information about the results of virus scan tasks and all detected objects is logged in a virus scan task report.
View the virus scan task report
- Open the main application window.
- On the navigation panel in the upper part of the main application window, click the
button.The Reports window opens.
- In the reports window that opens, in the Tasks section, select Virus Scan.
Note: If any errors occur while running a virus scan task, start the task again. If the new attempt to run the scan also results in an error, contact Kaspersky Lab Technical Support.
Article ID: kes58390, Last review: Feb 8, 2022