McAfee dr solomon s anti-virus 8.5 User Guide
Removing Infections From Your System
84
Dr Solomon’s Anti-Virus
Understanding false detections
A false detection occurs when Dr Solomon’s Anti-Virus sends a virus alert
message or makes a log file entry that identifies a virus where none actually
exists. You are more likely to see false detections if you have anti-virus
software from more than one vendor installed on your computer, because
some anti-virus software stores the code signatures it uses for detection
unprotected in memory.
message or makes a log file entry that identifies a virus where none actually
exists. You are more likely to see false detections if you have anti-virus
software from more than one vendor installed on your computer, because
some anti-virus software stores the code signatures it uses for detection
unprotected in memory.
The safest course to take when you see an alert message or log entry is to treat
it as a genuine virus threat, and to take the appropriate steps to remove the
virus from your system. If, however, you believe that a Dr Solomon’s
Anti-Virus component has generated a false detection—it has, for example,
flagged as infected a file that you have used safely for years—verify that you
are not seeing one of these situations before you call Network Associates
technical support:
it as a genuine virus threat, and to take the appropriate steps to remove the
virus from your system. If, however, you believe that a Dr Solomon’s
Anti-Virus component has generated a false detection—it has, for example,
flagged as infected a file that you have used safely for years—verify that you
are not seeing one of these situations before you call Network Associates
technical support:
• You have more than one anti-virus program running. If so, Dr Solomon’s
Anti-Virus components might detect unprotected code signatures that
another program uses and report them as viruses. To avoid this problem,
configure your computer to run only one anti-virus program, then shut the
computer down and turn off the power. Wait a few seconds before you
start the computer again so that the system can clear the other program’s
code signature strings from memory.
another program uses and report them as viruses. To avoid this problem,
configure your computer to run only one anti-virus program, then shut the
computer down and turn off the power. Wait a few seconds before you
start the computer again so that the system can clear the other program’s
code signature strings from memory.
• You have a BIOS chip with anti-virus features. Some BIOS chips provide
anti-virus features that can trigger false detections when Dr Solomon’s
Anti-Virus runs. Consult the user’s guide for your computer to learn about
how its anti-virus features work and how to disable them if necessary.
Anti-Virus runs. Consult the user’s guide for your computer to learn about
how its anti-virus features work and how to disable them if necessary.
• You have an older Hewlett-Packard or Zenith PC. Some older models
from these manufacturers modify the boot sectors on their hard disks each
time they start up. Dr Solomon’s Anti-Virus components might detect
these modifications as viruses, when they are not. Consult the user’s guide
for your computer to learn whether it uses self-modifying boot code. To
solve the problem, use the Dr Solomon’s Anti-Virus Command Line
scanner to add validation information to the startup files themselves. This
method does not save information about the boot sector or the master boot
record.
time they start up. Dr Solomon’s Anti-Virus components might detect
these modifications as viruses, when they are not. Consult the user’s guide
for your computer to learn whether it uses self-modifying boot code. To
solve the problem, use the Dr Solomon’s Anti-Virus Command Line
scanner to add validation information to the startup files themselves. This
method does not save information about the boot sector or the master boot
record.
• You have copy-protected software. Depending on the type of copy
protection used, Dr Solomon’s Anti-Virus components might detect a virus
in the boot sector or the master boot record on some floppy disks or other
media.
in the boot sector or the master boot record on some floppy disks or other
media.
If none of these situations apply, contact Network Associates technical
support or send e-mail to virus_research@nai.com with a detailed explanation
of the problem you encountered.
support or send e-mail to virus_research@nai.com with a detailed explanation
of the problem you encountered.