System Shield - Protect your PC from viruses, spyware, and more

To access:

Under Internet Security on the navigation bar, click Anti-malware. (System Shield must be installed on your computer.)

What it does:

System Shield protects your PC from all types of malicious files, including viruses, spyware, worms, and more.

Note: System Shield is a separate product. To access System Shield's functions through System Mechanic, the System Shield product must be installed on your computer.

Instructions:

The top section provides status information and fast access to recommended security actions.
The bottom section provides access to all the System Shield functions on the Scan, Protection, Definitions and Disinfection tabs.

View status from top section

The top section displays status information and access to recommended functions.

Any of the following buttons may display. (The actions available to you depend on your PC's security status; refer to the "Status Messages Described" table below for details.)

Click Update to update the virus and spyware definitions. The System Shield Alerter will display progress.
Click Scan now to run a full scan of your system. The Scan for Viruses and Spyware window will open and begin the scan.
Click Enable to turn on real-time protection or turn on the automatic updating of virus and spyware definitions.
Click Re-activate to re-activate your System Shield service.

Status Messages Described
Status message	Reason message displays (May be one or more reasons)	Actions available from top section (The actions that display depend on status.)
System Shield is actively protecting your PC from viruses and spyware. No actions are required.	All the recommended protections and settings are enabled, a full scan has been run recently, and virus and spyware definitions are current.	No recommended actions.
System Shield requires one or more actions from you to ensure maximum protection against viruses and spyware.	- A full scan has not been run for several days. - Recommended protections and settings are disabled.	Click Scan now to run a full scan of your system. The Scan for Viruses and Spyware window will open and begin the scan.
System Shield requires one or more actions from you to ensure maximum protection against viruses and spyware.	- A full scan has never been run or has not been run for several days. - Virus and spyware definitions are out of date or have not been checked for several days. - Recommended protections and settings are disabled.	Click Scan now to run a full scan of your system. The Scan for Viruses and Spyware window will open and begin the scan. Click Enable to turn on real-time protection or the setting that automatically updates virus and spyware definitions. Click Update to update the virus and spyware definitions. The System Shield Alerter will display progress. (If there is any error connecting to the Internet, click Try again.)
System Shield's virus and spyware definitions are out of date because your service has expired.	Virus and spyware definitions are out of date because your System Shield service has expired.	Click Re-activate to re-activate your System Shield service.

Access functions from bottom section

The bottom section provides access to all the System Shield functions. Functions are grouped into four tabs:

Scan. Displays the date a full scan was last run and provides access to all the scanning options.
Protection. Displays the status of your real-time and email protection and provides access to change settings for both types of protection.
Definitions. Displays status information on your virus and spyware definitions and provides download options.
Disinfection. Provides access to the System Shield Quarantine and System Shield Disinfection History windows.

Scan

The Scan tab displays the date a full scan was last run. A full scan is a complete scan of your computer, which checks memory, boot records, and all files and folders.

Click Scan now to scan your entire computer. Clicking the arrow on the Scan now button offers the following scan options:

Scan the Entire System for Malware. Scans your entire computer. The Scan for Viruses and Spyware window will open and begin the scan.
Scan a Specific Folder for Malware. Scans a specific folder that you select. The Scan for Viruses and Spyware window will open and begin the scan.
Scan a Specific File for Malware. Scan a specific file that you select. The Scan for Viruses and Spyware window will open and begin the scan.
Configure scan settings. The Configure System Shield Settings window will open and allow you to view or change settings.

Protection

The Protection tab shows the:

Status of your real-time protection, which is either Enabled or Disabled.
Status of your email protection, which is either Enabled or Disabled.

If you want to change settings, click Settings to open the appropriate tab on the Configure System Shield Settings window: either Real-time or Email.

Definitions

The Definitions tab displays information on your virus and spyware definitions.

Status message	Actions available (The actions that display depend on status.)
Virus and spyware definitions: Shows the status of the virus and spyware definitions, which is either Up to date, Out of date, or Updating.	Click Update now to download the latest virus and spyware definitions and keep your protection current. The System Shield Alerter will display progress. Click Check again to check for and download new virus and spyware definitions.
Definitions date: Shows the date of the last set of virus and spyware definitions installed.	No recommended actions.
Automatic updates: Shows the status of automatic updates for virus and spyware definitions, which is either Enabled or Disabled.	Click Settings to view or change settings related to downloading virus and spyware definitions. The Updates tab of the Configure System Shield Settings window will open.

Disinfection

The Disinfection tab offers access to the System Shield functions that manage disinfections or display disinfection history.

Click Manage System Shield Quarantine to open the System Shield Quarantine, which is a safe holding area where System Shield places infected or suspicious files.
Click View System Shield Disinfection History to open the System Shield Disinfection History window, which shows detailed statistics for the files and email messages found with infections.