The preferences tab is used to configure program settings. Here you can specify the scan attitudes (e.g. the scan level and the heuristic) and basic settings to ensure optimal performance on your computer.

Determine what you want it to scan, what you want it to do if it finds a virus or suspicious file, and how aggressive the scan should examine. The changes made here apply to all scan-profiles of Ashampoo AntiVirus. Click "restore defaults" in order to receive the settings which are preset as default settings.

You can choose between three different priority levels. Use the slider to select a level.

Maximum Protection

The scanner has the highest priority. Simultaneous work with other applications is almost impossible. The scanner completes its scan at maximum speed, however. All files, the memory and e-mails are checked.

Recommended

The scanner is performed with normal priority. All processes are allocated the same amount of processor time by the operating system. Under certain circumstances, work with other applications may be affected. E-mails are not included in this scan.

Maximum Speed

The scanner is only allocated processor time by the operating system if no other process requires computation time, i.e. as long as only the scanner is running, the speed is maximum. All in all, work with other programs is optimal: The computer responds more quickly if other programs require computation time while the scanner continues running in the background. This setting is activated as default and is recommended. Archives and e-mails are not checked.

Using scheduled signature-updates, you can set whether and at what intervals searches for the newest virus signatures. You can define a certain time or interval. However, it is possible at all times to start the signature updates manually via main menu or tray icon .

Scheduled Signature-Updates...

Choose between following time intervals:

Never check for Updates...

This symbol appears, as soon as you have moved the slider on the lowest level. This means that no period exists in which should be searched for new signature updates.

Use heuristic analysis to identify unknown threats. The heuristic analysis is a scanning method which is based on rules which are able to determine patterns of behavior and in the light of these is able to recognize infections which are based on equal or similar structures. In comparison to conventional scans for signatures, the program searches for commands or components, based on a heuristic algorithm which searches for frequently used and combined operations, so possible threats can be located right before they are actually known within our signature database already.

If the examined file fulfils the certain criteria, it is classified as being suspect. However, this does not necessarily mean that the file code is in actual fact a virus, a worm or a Trojan; it may also be a false alert. The user has to decide what to do with the suspect file. Depending on the knowledge of whether the source containing the suspect code is reliable. Use the slider to define the detection rate.

High

If this option is enabled, Ashampoo AntiVirus detects a large number of unknown malicious files. Though note: you must also expect false positives.

Medium

This option is enabled as the default setting, so the heuristic is not too aggressive.

Low

Using this level, Ashampoo AntiVirus detects fewer suspect files, though the risk of false alerts is low.

Off

All scans will be executed without heuristic analysis. We recommend to use  the default level.

Sometimes there are situations when it is necessary to scan individual objects for viruses but not the entire computer e.g. download folders or archived files. Mark the checkbox to enable to scan single files or folders.