What is McAfee VirusScan?

McAfee VirusScan Enterprise is the virus software licensed by the university. The primary programs utilized within McAfee are VirusScan on-Access Scan - an on-access scanner that runs in the background and scans disks and files automatically when they are used, VirusScan on-Demand Scan - an on-demand virus scanner that scans a given disk only when the user chooses to run it. For more general information about McAfee VirusScan Enterprise, see the Network Associates web site and the following additional resource for use of this product: General Information about McAfee VirusScan Enterprise

How is it licensed?

The UF McAfee VirusScan Enterprise packages are available to all current UF faculty, staff, and students for campus or home usage. Individuals are entitled to non-transferable use of McAfee VirusScan Enterprise as long as they are students at or employed by UF. In addition to the initial package, we also receive periodic updates to the software to account for new viruses. To be effective, the virus software must be updated regularly (please see below for more details)!

How do I get a copy?

For on campus use, faculty or staff should contact their technology support representative or the IFAS Help Desk. For student or personal use, copies may be obtained from UF Soda Shoppe

How do I keep McAfee Updated to protect from Virus threats?

If your machine is running and connected to the network, it will connect to ePolicy Orchestrator and check for any required DAT updates. If they exist, the DAT file will be updated automatically. You may also "manually" run the Auto-Update on your machine at any time that you wish. You must first be connected to the Internet, then you can simply right click the VirusSheild icon in your system tray (bottom right hand corner of your screen), and select "Update Now...".

Scanning Your Computer

McAfee VirusScan is the virus-protection software distributed and supported IFAS IT. McAfee is also available to UF faculty, staff and students to download for use on a home PC.

VShield and VirusScan are components of the software that provide the primary elements of virus protection.

VirusScan is an on-demand virus scanner. It has the ability to scan a file, folder, drive, or disk when the user chooses to run it.

To Run an On Demand Scan

  1. Right click on the Virus Shield on the bottom right hand corner
  2. If the item you wish to scan isn't listed, click Add.
  3. Using the add button, identify the item, drive, or folder you wish to scan, then click OK.
  4. Click Scan Now
  5. The status line of the program window will display the number of files that have been scanned. As it scans, one of three things may happen:
  • No infected items will be found.
  • If a known virus is found, you will be asked if you wish to remove it. You should remove the virus.
  • If a newer virus is detected, but cannot be removed, you may be told to update to a newer version of the software. In this instance, please contact the Help Desk at 392-4636
VShield is an on-access virus scanner. It runs in the background and scans disks and files automatically when they are used. VShield has the same detection capability as VirusScan. You can tell if you are running Vshield by right clicking the McAfee VShield icon in the bottom right of your screen.

If you are not running VShield automatically, please contact the Help Desk at 392-4636.