Curse

Inde · Aug 14, 2009, 02:55 PM // 14:55

So I have a general question that I know might need more details but maybe there is a standard answer. When you have a virus or a file that has a virus is it better to:

Move to Chest
Delete
Repair

Those are usually the 3 option given when doing a virus scan and I'm just wondering which is better and any reasons why. Thanks!

Quaker · Aug 14, 2009, 03:13 PM // 15:13

Moving to the "chest" or "vault" is only of use if the infected file is something you think you may want to keep and hope to repair later. Normally, there's no benefit to doing that.
There is also the slim possibility that you got a false-positive - the vault is like the Recycle bin, you could retrieve a file later if you want. But, also like the Recycle bin, the files in the vault will just be using up hard drive space unless you delete them (by "emptying" the vault/recycle bin).

Repair will attempt to remove the virus and repair the file. Depending upon the file and the type of virus, that may work, but often times the file IS the virus or the file is too corrupted to repair. Generally, if you try to repair any files, the repair may "fail" anyway.

Delete is usually the best option. Sometimes, of course, the infected file may be an important system file, so trying to repair it first is not a bad idea.

Snograt · Aug 14, 2009, 06:16 PM // 18:16

In a nutshell, try to repair - if that fails, delete.

Tarun will be along shortly to explain how wrong I am

dilan155 · Aug 14, 2009, 06:27 PM // 18:27

i agree with snograt, first option should be to try and repair it, but often times the file will be too corrupted to heal properly. the next option is to delete it, unless you think that file is a false positive and is used in a program that you know for sure, if you dont know for sure quarantine it then try to learn more about it, if its useless delete it. i usually skip the quarantine part and go straight to delete, but the other way is the "safer" way,

Fril Estelin · Aug 14, 2009, 06:43 PM // 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snograt

In a nutshell, try to repair - if that fails, delete.

Tarun will be along shortly to explain how wrong I am

You're right BUT, and this is a big but, it's cautious to use the other option in the middle: quarantine (or put in chest), just in case an important file is part of the pack and is not deleted. Once your system has been running fine with files quarantined (and your system rebooted), you can delete them from the quarantine.

Snograt · Aug 14, 2009, 07:26 PM // 19:26

You're right of course, Fril. I tend to be even more cautious than that, though. I delete always - if that breaks it, I fix it.

Having said that, I haven't had a virus detected for over a year. I guess my sensible usage practice must be working.