Malwarebytes Flash Scan

[Sweet Sue Ohio]

Will some one please tell me exactly what Flash Scan is? What does it do?

[mountaintree16]

Hello Sweet Sue Ohio and welcome to the forums here at Malwarebytes.org

Here is a direct quote from Fatdcuk, a Malwarebytes Researcher.

If you are a safe user then I would suggest just run a flash scan everytime the database updates.

The reasoning behind a flash scan is to majorly speed up the process of checking your computer with new signatures as the database is updated.

Flash scan concentrates on 2 areas of malware activity, loaded process's and loading points for those process's.

If there is malware there known to our DB then flash will detect one or both components and then users know its time to run a quick scan/fullscan to complete a removal.

Flash scans will not use the full spectrum of detections(e.g scanning files on the computer),removal and fixing like the quickscan but then if your not infected(on demand scan) that really is no issue what so ever and the time it takes for a quick PC check happens in a *flash*.

That said if you are using MBAM to clean up an infected computer go streight to Quick scan in regular mode for MBAM at its awesome best.

As a side note, when replying, please use the "ADD REPLY" button located at the bottom of the page.

Thank you

[DarkSnakeKobra]

Hi Sweet Sue Ohio and welcome to malwarebytes.

In a nutshell it scans the most dangerous areas that could prevent removal. When malware start with windows almost nothing can remove them, other then startup scanners and Avasts boot scan.

[george.drew505]

Hi Sweet Sue Ohio and welcome to malwarebytes.

In a nutshell it scans the most dangerous areas that could prevent removal. When malware start with windows almost nothing can remove them, other then startup scanners and Avasts boot scan.

[ICED]

Hi Sweet Sue Ohio and welcome to malwarebytes.

In a nutshell it scans the most dangerous areas that could prevent removal. When malware start with windows almost nothing can remove them, other then startup scanners and Avasts boot scan.

actually, that's not true.

the only reason it can't be removed is because of system restore; when you remove a windows file, windows believes that it is necessary to run that file and recovers it using system restore.

viruses and malware take advantage of that and pose themselves as a windows file.

all you need to do is turn off system restore, then run a scan, and delete all the viruses found.

Once that is done, reboot, and all problems located in windows should be gone.

[exile360]

Greetings ICED and welcome to the forum

You might want to read up a bit on System Restore and how it works.

While it can bring an infection back, it is not automated by Windows, so when a file is removed, it is not resurrected by System Restore. That being said, there is a function that does work similar to what you're describing called Windows File Protection (WFP).

That being said, some infections simply run at startup and prevent other applications (like Malwarebytes') from being able to run, which has nothing to do with them being restored as they aren't removed unless done offline (like from a boot disc, or from Safe Mode, assuming the infection does not run in Safe Mode).

There are also infections that actually infect system files, or alter the Master Boot Record. Such infections have the potential to be unremovable without overwriting the MBR, and sometimes doing so outside of the system when Windows isn't running is a requirement to fix them (though that is not always the case, it varies by the infection being dealt with).

[DarkSnakeKobra]

actually, that's not true.

the only reason it can't be removed is because of system restore; when you remove a windows file, windows believes that it is necessary to run that file and recovers it using system restore.

viruses and malware take advantage of that and pose themselves as a windows file.

all you need to do is turn off system restore, then run a scan, and delete all the viruses found.

Once that is done, reboot, and all problems located in windows should be gone.

My previous statement was way off. Was still learning back then.

Not true. System restore creates backups so you can restore windows to a previous point in case of system problems. Windows does not automatically restore items from System Restore.

Not even close. It's not that easy. If it was we wouldn't have need for the malware removal forum.