Quick Scan or Full Scan??

[cheleski]

Hi All,

May seem like a silly question....but when do you use a Full Scan and when do you use a Quick Scan?

Thanks!

[Alex_computer]

A quick scan scans the most common places on your computer for Malware. This is where they are most likely to be.

A Full scan scans your entire system for malware. This includes all of your folders, files, etc. (everything on your machine)

[mountaintree16]

To add to what Alex_computer said,

If you want to do a full scan, I would recommend doing a quick scan FIRST. I've seen some of the Admins and other staff on here say that some malware tries to reproduce/change itself while a scan is being done. This is much much much less likely if you do a quick scan instead of a full scan.

So I'd stick with a quick scan if I were you, doing a full scan maybe once a week? I do a quick scan once a day or whenever I use the computer, and I haven't actually done a full scan in a while, but I probably should sometime I used to do a full scan until I found that out, now I mostly do the quick scan. Also, from surfing around and reading the posts on here, I have found out that, if I am remembering correctly that is, that a quick scan catches 99.9% of what the full scan would.

[Alex_computer]

To add to what Alex_computer said,

If you want to do a full scan, I would recommend doing a quick scan FIRST. I've seen some of the Admins and other staff on here say that some malware tries to reproduce/change itself while a scan is being done. This is much much much less likely if you do a quick scan instead of a full scan.

So I'd stick with a quick scan if I were you, doing a full scan maybe once a week? I do a quick scan once a day or whenever I use the computer, and I haven't actually done a full scan in a while, but I probably should sometime I used to do a full scan until I found that out, now I mostly do the quick scan. Also, from surfing around and reading the posts on here, I have found out that, if I am remembering correctly that is, that a quick scan catches 99.9% of what the full scan would.

@mountaintree16,

Yes, that is also what I have found out. Personally I dont think i've done a Full scan on my machine ever with MBAM, I just always do the quick scan.

For the 99%, I have found that out also by looking around at some of the logs posted on this site and also Bleepingcomputer.com.

Alex

[mountaintree16]

@ Alex computer:

Wouldn't hurt to do a full scan once in a while I used to only do the full scan, now I mostly do the quick scan.

Also, my full scan would take over an hour sometimes (first few times 45 mins or so) but the quick scan is generally done in 15 minutes or less, but generally takes about 10 minutes. So, I prefer the quick scan for that reason as well as something infected potentially changing itself during the full scan.

[Alex_computer]

I should do a full scan more often, its just that I dont really visit any websites that have malware and I trust them. I am also very cautious.

I am kind of lazy and impatient when it comes to scanning, so I go with the quick scan. Thats why

[mountaintree16]

@ Alex_computer

Yeah. I think once a week or at least once a month would be a good idea for the full scan ah, but unfortunately you never know what has malware, but seems like you're safe, so you're probably good to go I am pretty safe too

MBAM's quick scan is a very good speed, and Spybot doesn't take too long either.

[mbyuser]

"If you want to do a full scan, I would recommend doing a quick scan FIRST. I've seen some of the Admins and other staff on here say that some malware tries to reproduce/change itself while a scan is being done. This is much much much less likely if you do a quick scan instead of a full scan."

props on that info,esp as i ussaly run a full scan.

[mountaintree16]

@ mbyuser

Thanks. I am not an expert or anything by any means, but I think that that would be the safe way to go.

[cheleski]

Thanks guys! That has completely answered my question! I just assumed that the full was better then the quick but if the quick picks up 99% then I will definatley do that in the future as a Full scan takes about 2 hrs!

Cheers and thanks again for all your informative replies!

Michelle

[Alex_computer]

Thanks guys! That has completely answered my question! I just assumed that the full was better then the quick but if the quick picks up 99% then I will definatley do that in the future as a Full scan takes about 2 hrs!

Cheers and thanks again for all your informative replies!

Michelle

Your welcome

Alex

[mountaintree16]

@ cheleski

You're welcome Glad we could be of help. I would still recommend doing a full scan maybe once a week, but at least once month, after a quick scan, just to check on your system and make sure nothing was missed.