You can use a Run command to start a rootkit scan with Kaspersky Internet Security. You also use this for the Total Security version of the program. The run command works by manually activating the scan through the program data files.
1. Open your Windows Start Menu and search “Run”, then open the Run App.
2. Input the following text into the Run application. Be sure to include the quotation marks."%programfiles(X86)%\Kaspersky Lab\"
3. A new folder will open. Locate and take note of the Kaspersky Security folder. This will be either Total Security or Internet Security.
4. Reopen the Run application and add the folder destination that you just found."%programfiles(X86)%\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Total Security 20.0\"
5. Add avp.com before the last quotation mark.
6. Finish it off with a space, then “start scan_qscan”, without the quotation marks."%programfiles(X86)%\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Total Security 20.0\avp.com" start scan_qscan
7. Press “Ok” to test that it works. A Command Prompt window should launch and Kaspersky will start to run the Rootkit Scan.
The Run application will keep the Rootkit scan activation text saved. It will remain there unless you delete it or do a system restore. It would be a good idea to copy and paste your Run command into a text document that you can save for later use.
What is a Kaspersky Rootkit Scan?
A Rootkit Scan is a specialised scan that only looks for Rootkits in your system. Because it is limited it takes much less time and puts less strain on your system.
What is a Rootkit?
Rootkits are a type of malware that hides in your files, and intercepts your system functions. They can install more tools in the background to allow remote access to your device. They are typically pretty malicious and should be removed immediately if infected.
How Often Should You Run a Rootkit Scan?
Kaspersky will run a Rootkit Scan everyday shortly after startup. This is the default setting to help maximise your protection. It is a good idea to let it run daily to ensure that your system is clean of any malware.The default schedule should be fine for most users.
If you find yourself in a high risk environment (visiting unsafe websites and regularly downloading) then it would be a good idea to run more frequent scans. You can choose to manually initiation Rootkit scans, or even make use of a Full Scan.
How Long Does a Rootkit Scan Take?
Rootkit scans only search through the vital files on your computer. This helps speed up the process and makes it the optimal daily background scan. Most users should see the scan complete in less than 15 minutes.
How to Disable Rootkit Scan in Kaspersky
You can disable the automatic rootkit scan through the performance settings.This isn’t recommended, unless you’re already running a full scan daily.
1. Open up your version of Kaspersky, either Internet or Total Security.
2. Select Settings via the cog icon.
3. Choose Performance from the categories.
4. Uncheck the option that says “Search for software that is intended to conceal traces of a malicious program in the system (rootkits)”.
Do You Need To Run a Rootkit Scan if You Run a Full Scan?
You don’t need to run a Rootkit Scan if you have already ran a Full Scan with Kaspersky Internet Security. A full scan will search for rootkits as well as many other malicious infections.
What is a Kaspersky Full Scan?
A Full Scan is a more detailed search through all the files on your computer. Looking for anything malicious or out of place. Kaspersky will use a higher percentage of CPU to run a Full Scan efficiently. While one is running you may notice a significant decrease in performance from your machine. To ensure that your performance doesn’t interfere with your use you may want to schedule your Full Scans to run while you’re not on your system.
How Often Should You Run a Full Scan?
Most users should be running a Kaspersky full scan at least once a week. If you ever feel like your system may have been compromised it is advised to run a full scan as soon as possible. If you are in a high risk environment you should be running a scan daily or every other day.
You can schedule a Full Scan to run daily with both Kaspersky Total Security and Internet Security. However this is only recommended on more powerful systems or when the device isn’t in use.
How Long Will a Full Scan Take?
The time that a Full Scan will take varies. On higher performance machines a scan will usually last between 10 minutes and an hour. Devices with lower performance may take several hours to complete.
The scanning process will search through all the files on your machine. The more files on your harddrive the more files Kaspersky has to scan through. This means that the less documents your device has the quicker the scan will be.
The program runs by using your CPU. It will often run faster if you’re not using other applications while the scan runs. A modern CPU will be able to handle multi-tasking better while running the necessary Kaspersky scans.
Final Thoughts
The Kaspersky Rootkit scan feature offers great protection against malware. It serves as a good daily scan that can be done in minutes in the background. It is a good idea to allow the Rootkit scan to take place daily, and manually scan if you’re uncertain about security.
Although the standard rootkit scan is optimal, it is not a replacement for a full scan. You should still enable Kaspersky to run a full scan as often as possible. This can be manually activated or scheduled. It’s recommended that you use both the rootkit and full scan features offered by Kaspersky.
