Can you disable FF's virus scan?


  1. Posts : 634
    7 Ultimate 64 bit Service Pack 1
       #1

    Can you disable FF's virus scan?


    1.) Can I stop FF from scanning downloaded files?

    2.) If I stop this feature, will the file still be scanned by OS?

    Basically, I have this feeling that FF is making the file get scanned twice and why not eliminate 1.

    FYI, I use the Download Manager Tweak 0.9.5 ( https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...manager-tweak/ )
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 140
    Windows Seven Ultimate x64 SP1
       #2

    i don't which firefox version you have but you can check this out

    Browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone - MozillaZine Knowledge Base
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 634
    7 Ultimate 64 bit Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    BTNH108464 said:
    i don't which firefox version you have but you can check this out

    Browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone - MozillaZine Knowledge Base
    Thank you very much for that link, BTNH108464.

    The article does not seem to address FF 4, which I am using, so I decided to try setting the values to false and seeing what happens. Pleasee see attached image for the exact changes I made.

    After setting both values to false restarted FF and went to: eicar | THE ANTI-VIRUS OR ANTI-MALWARE TEST FILE

    I downloaded some normal safe files and then downloaded some virus test files from EICAR. FF 4 did not scan files but MSE did catch the eicar files. I assume this means that the FF values are not overriding Window's security policy checks.

    is this a safe assumption?

    Thanks again
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Can you disable FF's virus scan?-b.png  
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
       #4

    I think that it boils down to how quickly an AV finds a problem, as well as which ones it finds. Since FF only triggers which ever AV that you use, there would be no difference in it's detection rate, and even if it causes a double scan, it does not seem to cause any problems on my computer. The fact that I can see that the scan is actually performed makes me feel a bit more secure, whether I am or not.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 140
    Windows Seven Ultimate x64 SP1
       #5

    RoloDman said:
    BTNH108464 said:
    i don't which firefox version you have but you can check this out

    Browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone - MozillaZine Knowledge Base
    Thank you very much for that link, BTNH108464.

    The article does not seem to address FF 4, which I am using, so I decided to try setting the values to false and seeing what happens. Pleasee see attached image for the exact changes I made.

    After setting both values to false restarted FF and went to: eicar | THE ANTI-VIRUS OR ANTI-MALWARE TEST FILE

    I downloaded some normal safe files and then downloaded some virus test files from EICAR. FF 4 did not scan files but MSE did catch the eicar files. I assume this means that the FF values are not overriding Window's security policy checks.

    is this a safe assumption?

    Thanks again
    Sounds great, on older versions of firefox it would override windows security checks, guess not in ff4. Safe to assume? Yes, but it is never a bad idea to do more tests :)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 634
    7 Ultimate 64 bit Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #6

    services.sync.prefs.sync.browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone

    This preference should be left alone. It controls whether or not Firefox Sync includes your virus scanning preference when syncing. Keep it set to "true"


    [FINAL UPDATE]



    thanks to everybody for helping
      My Computer


 

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