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New Mexico State University

ICT Security Recommendations and Warnings

McAfee VirusScan

This document assumes that you already have the McAfee VirusScan system installed in your PC. If this system is installed in your PC, you will see the "red, white and blue shield" icon appearing at the lower right corner of your windows task bar. Make sure that there is no RED circle around the shield, otherwise the real-time protection is not enabled. You should set automatic updates and scans in your McAfee VirusScan:    

McAfee - How to Scan

  1. Right click the V-shield icon in the bottom right system tray
  2. Click (left-click) VirusScan Console
  3. Right click Scan All Fixed Disks
  4. Click (left-click) Start. The scan may take a few minutes to complete.
  5. When finished, close the virus scanner.
  6. To be sure your computer is clean, re-boot your computer and follow these steps to scan your computer a second time.

McAfee - How to Set-Up Auto-Updates:

  1. Go to Start Menu
  2. Choose Programs, Network Associates, and then Virus Scan Console

    screenshot 1
  3. Double-click on "Auto-Update" (See image 1)
  4. Select "Schedule" tab at the top (See image 2)

    screen shot 2
  5. Under the “Task” tab, put a check in the "Enable" box.
  6. Click on the “Schedule” tab. (See image 3)
  7. Under “Schedule Task” Choose "Weekly". Virus definition updates are released more often than once a month, but never on a daily basis.
  8. In the area labled "Start Time", set the hour you want it to update using the 24 hour clock (military time). Make sure you choose a time that your computer is powered on. If your computer is off during the scheduled time, it will be unable to check for updates.
  9. Click OK

    screen shot 3

Your computer will now regularly download updates for your Mcafee Virus Scanner.

How to setup Auto-Scan:

  1. Go to Start Menu
  2. Choose Programs, Network Associates, and then Virus Scan Console
  3. Double click "Scan All Fixed Disks"

    screen shot 4
  4. In Virus Scan On-Demand Scan- Scan All Fixed Disks window, click on the "Schedule" button.
  5. In the Task tab, check the box for "Enable (schedule task runs at specified times).

    screen shot 5
  6. Next click on the "Schedule" tab.

    screen shot 6
  7. In the "Schedule Task" drop-down menu, select "Weekly"
  8. In the "Start Time" field, type when you want the scan to take place. Make this a time when your computer will be ON, otherwise the scan will not run. If you schedule an auto-update, it is best to schedule the scan to take place 1.5 hours after you have scheduled Auto Upgrade to run.
  9. Check "Enable randomization" and select 2 hours
  10. Check "Run missed task"
  11. In the "Delay missed task by" section, choose a time between 5-30 minutes.
  12. Click "Apply" and then "OK"
  13. In the Virus Scan On-Demand Scan window, click "Save as Default".
  14. Click "Yes"
  15. Click "Apply" and then "OK"
  16. Close the Virus Scan Console Window

Be sure to leave your computer on at the scheduled scan time each week.