Catdaddy, Peter, thanks for your replies. What I'm trying to explain is that Vulnerability Scanner cannot possibly simply look at what is installed on a computer and then check that for updates. Okay, for example, on my computer there is an app I wrote which opens the DVD door on the computer box. I named it CDOpen.exe. Now, Vulnerability Scanner may be able to recognize that CDOpen is an executable file, but how will it know where to check to see if an update is available?
In order for VS to check for an update on any app, it has to know where to check. And in order to do that, it needs a database which contains the name of the app, and as a property of that entry, the location it checks to see if an update is available. As new applications are added to that database, VS is able to check them as well for updates. But it will never be able to check CDOpen.exe unless I provide McAfee with the location to check.
I understand what you are saying, so by your own confirmation then you will be aware of when it needs to be updated. Of course give the fact if you have it set up to automatically update. Which literally means simply 1 more program that the Vulnerabilty Scanner will not have to search for.
Can we now consider this to be Answered?
That I don't know and we are never told about how the programmes work, which is normal for most software makers.
Well, catdaddy, what we've determined so far is that VS doesn't monitor CDOpen.exe. What I'm trying to get is the list of apps it DOES monitor. So, no, my question is not answered. Can one of you guys get in touch with the people who maintain VS and ask them to query the database for the list of supported apps?
As we stated, I am uncertain if that is possible.Just to clarify my thinking, why is it imperative that you need to know such? Of course I could possibly ask during our upcoming Conference Call on Monday.
The company wont divulge proprietary product knowledge anyway.
There have been similar questions in the past and each time they were told that.
BTW it would only recognize proprietary brands anyway,. So anything you made yourself would be ignored.
It's basically a tool to make sure things are updating correctly.
Well, thanks for asking. I've already explained more than once why I want this information. I didn't say it was "imperative". I just want to know. I continued to ask and explain in more detail because you didn't understand what I was asking. As I explained before, knowing what specific applications it monitors will be useful to me when I'm choosing new software to add. I might choose between two similar apps based on the fact that one is monitored and the other is not. Beyond that, I feel that it is in my best interest to know the details of what any application on my computer is doing.
Would you explain to me why this information is a proprietary guarded secret? What danger or harm would result from the list being public knowledge?
Simply speaking, unlike some major Anti-Virus applications McAfee does not 'Broadcast' to the public at large it is aware of a unsafe Program/Application. Due to the fact the author will then create another one that needs to be detected.
Therefore McAfee stays one step ahead of Malicious software.The principal part being that McAfee kept you safe in any instance.Which is far more important.
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