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Exclude files and folders from Norton Auto-Protect, SONAR, and Download Intelligence scans

You can configure Norton to exclude certain programs from the Auto-Protect scans and SONAR scans. You can use Scan Exclusions window and Real Time Exclusions window to exclude viruses and other high-risk security threats from scanning. When you add a file or folder to the exclusions list, Norton ignores the file or folder when it scans for security risks.

To exclude a file from Download Intelligence, you must select a folder and download the file to the selected folder. For example, when you download an unsafe executable file to this folder, Norton lets you download the file and does not remove it from your computer. You must create a new folder specific for Download Intelligence exclusions.

Excluding a file from the Norton scans reduce the level of protection of your computer and should be used only if you have a specific need. You should only exclude items if you are confident that they are not infected.

Exclude high-risk security threats from scanning

  1. Start Norton.

    If you see the My Norton window, next to Device Security, click Open.

  2. In the Norton main window, click Settings.

  3. In the Settings window, click Antivirus.

  4. In the Antivirus settings window, click the Scans and Risks tab.

  5. Under Exclusions / Low Risks, do one of the following:

    • In the Items to Exclude from Scans row, click Configure.

    • In the Items to Exclude from Auto-Protect, Script Control, SONAR and Download Intelligence Detection row, click Configure.

  6. In the window that appears, click Add Folders or Add Files.

    You can assign exclusions to local drives, folders, groups of files, single files, or network drives. However, Norton does not support exclusions for files on a network. If you add a network drive to the exclusion list, make sure that the drive is connected to your computer.

  7. In the Add Item dialog box, click the browse icon.

  8. In the dialog box that appears, select the item that you want to exclude from the scan.

    When you add folders, you can specify whether to include or exclude subfolders.

  9. Click OK.

  10. In the Add Item dialog box, click OK.

  11. In the window that appears, click Apply, and then click OK.

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DOCID: v3672136
Operating System: Windows
Last modified: 01/06/2021