One of the more protective tasks you can setup with a virus protection program is to setup an automatic scan of your system. This ensures that a scan of your entire computer is performed and at the same time, doesn't interfere with your every day work.

It does require your computer to be on for the schedule to kick off, and becuase computers are much more efficient today, the energy spent to keep them on is negligable to the cost if you don't scan your computer, let alone its scanning during your productive time.

Because I like BitDefender (Internet Security 2009), I am going to give the instructions for it. These won't be the same for every virus scanning software, but you'll get the idea. If you want me to evaluation an application and tell you how to do it, drop me a line and I'll put the instructions together for you.

1. Open Bitdefender control panel by clikcing on Start | Programs | Bitdefender (group) | Bitdefender Internet Security (program)
2. Make sure you are in Advanced View (this is detected by seeing "Switch to Basic View" in the top-right corner). If it says "Switch to Advanced View" then click it to switch.
3. Click on the Antivirus section on the left side of the screen.
4. Click on the Virus Scan tab.
5. Right-click on the scan task you'd like to schedule. For example, a deep scan is good.
6. Right-click on Deep Scan and click the Schedule menu option.
7. A new window will appear
8. Select the Overview tab, nothing changes here, it should be the default High.
9. Select the Paths tab, choose the C:\ drive. If you have other hard drives, select those to pressing down the Ctrl key and select the extra drives. This makes sure you are scanning all areas of the system.
10. Select the Scheduler tab and make the following changes:
    1. Select the option Periodically
    2. Select the options below:
       1. At every: 1 day
       2. Start: today
       3. Start time: 2:00 AM
11. Nothing is required with the Logs tab.
12. Click the OK button to create the schedule.

There you have it. You will now see a Schedule icon appear on the Deep Scan entry. If you want to change the settings of the scheduled task, click the Schedule icon and make the necessary adjustments.

There is nothing else to do, and your computer, and your pocket book will thank you. A little virus protection insurance for $40-$60 dollars a year is better than reformatting or having a high-tech geek come in and clean it up.

A plug for those geek services, if you find yourself in a bad spot, I can help you get back on track. If I can't clean it up or fix it, you don't pay for it. So call if you need my help.