How Do Online Virus Scanners Work?

Posted by user185812 on Super User See other posts from Super User or by user185812
Published on 2012-11-13T17:00:32Z Indexed on 2012/11/13 17:03 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 491

Filed under:

security

|

virus

|

privacy

|

online

I have seen a lot on free online virus scanners available online lately. I was considering trying one of them out, but I have a question. If I have company word documents, excel spreadsheets, etc on my computer, do these scanners just take a copy of everything on my hard drive, put it on their server, and search through them? Or do they just use virus definitions and scan through my computer without taking a copy of all my data?

© Super User or respective owner

Related posts about security

sudo apt-get update errors

as seen on Ask Ubuntu - Search for 'Ask Ubuntu'
Here is what I get on my terminal when running sudo apt-get update errors. I dont know if the issue is from my sources.list or my proxy setup(have not made any changes to proxies). Thank you for any help in advanced. Ign http://security.ubuntu.com oneiric-security Release.gpg Ign http://security… >>> More
The Security-Developer Gap: Why IT Security Can't Fix Your Security Problems Alone

as seen on Devx - Search for 'Devx'
Two well-known white hats explain how hackers take advantage of security holes left by enterprise application developers. >>> More
The Security-Developer Gap: Why IT Security Can't Fix Your Security Problems Alone

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
Two well-known white hats explain how hackers take advantage of security holes left by enterprise application developers. >>> More
StackOverFlowError while creating Mac object on AS400/Java

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
Hello all, I am a newbie to AS400-Java programming. I am trying to create my first program to test the implementation of Message Authentication Code (MAC). I am trying to use the HMACSHA1 hash function. My (Java 1.4) program runs fine on a dev box (V5R4).But fails terribly on the QA box (V5R3). My… >>> More
Google App Engine - Spring Security Issue (java.security.AccessControlException)

as seen on Stack Overflow - Search for 'Stack Overflow'
I'm currently getting the AccessControlException below when I deploy to app engine (I don't see it when I run in my local environment). I'm using GAE 1.3.1, Spring 3.0.1, and Spring Security 3.0.2. Any ideas how to get around this issue? It appears to be an issue with Spring Security trying to get… >>> More

Related posts about virus

virus behaviour but couldn't find any virus on windows7

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
Hi Friends, I found strange virus like behaviour on my pc running windows 7. I'm not able to type properly with my keyboard. Some times it won't respond, and some other times it adds characters indefinitely to the typing area. When i click on desktop it creates new folders. When press ctrl+N on a… >>> More
virus behaviour but couldn't find any virus on windows7

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
Hi Friends, I found strange virus like behaviour on my pc running windows 7. I'm not able to type properly with my keyboard. Some times it won't respond, and some other times it adds characters indefinitely to the typing area. When i click on desktop it creates new folders. When press ctrl+N on a… >>> More
How to know if your computer is hit by a dnschanger virus?

as seen on Super User - Search for 'Super User'
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is on the final stage of its Operation Ghost Click, which strikes against the menace of the DNSChanger virus and trojan. Infected PCs running the DNSChanger malware at unawares are in the danger of going offline on this coming Monday (July 9) when… >>> More
AVG Anti-Virus Plus Firewall

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
AVG's real-time <a href = "http://www.winplanet.com/file/13384.htm">Anti-Virus scanner</a> paired with a powerful firewall for added security >>> More
AVG Anti-Virus Pro

as seen on Internet.com - Search for 'Internet.com'
Comprehensive, award-winning antivirus and antispyware protection for your PC >>> More