How Symantec Antivirus Protects Your Computer - Symantec 10551441 - AntiVirus Corporate Edition Client Manual

Introducing Symantec AntiVirus 17

How Symantec AntiVirus protects your computer

Files within compressed files are scanned and cleaned of viruses and security
risks. No separate programs or options changes are necessary for Internet-
borne viruses. Auto-Protect scans uncompressed program and document files
automatically as they are downloaded.
Symantec AntiVirus responds to files that are infected by viruses or by security
risks with first actions and second actions.
When a virus is detected during a scan, Symantec AntiVirus, by default,
attempts to clean the virus from the infected file and repair the effects of the
virus. If the file is cleaned, the virus is successfully and completely removed. If
for some reason Symantec AntiVirus cannot clean the file, Symantec AntiVirus
attempts the second action, moving the infected file to the Quarantine so that
the virus cannot spread.
When your virus protection is updated, Symantec AntiVirus automatically
checks to see if any files are stored in the Quarantine and gives you the option of
scanning them using the new protection information.
Note: Your administrator may choose to scan files in the Quarantine
automatically.
By default, for security risks, Symantec AntiVirus quarantines the infected files
and returns the system information that the security risk has changed to its
previous state. Some security risks cannot be completely removed without
causing another program on your computer, such as a Web browser, to fail. If
Symantec AntiVirus is not configured to handle the risk automatically, it
prompts you before it stops a process or restarts your computer. Alternatively,
you can configure Symantec AntiVirus to use the log only action for security
risks.
When Symantec AntiVirus discovers security risks, it also presents a link in the
scan window to Symantec Security Response, where you can learn more about
the security risk. Your system administrator may also send a customized
message.
How Symantec AntiVirus protects your computer
Virus infections can be avoided. Viruses that are quickly detected and removed
from your computer cannot spread to other files and cause damage. The effects
of viruses and security risks can be repaired. When a virus or a security risk is
detected, by default Symantec AntiVirus notifies you that one or more of your
files is affected. If you do not want to be notified, you or your administrator can
configure Symantec AntiVirus to handle the risk automatically.