The Insight Network scan uses the Cloud technology wherein a remote server on the Web contains the latest virus definitions. Norton Internet Security scans your computer for the latest security threats. When Norton Internet Security performs the Insight Network scan, it uses the virus definitions that are available locally and in the Cloud. Norton Internet Security provides additional protection by using the most recent definitions in the Cloud, apart from the definitions that are available locally on your computer.

Norton Internet Security performs an Insight Network scan only when the Insight Protection option is turned on. By default, the Insight Protection option is turned on. You can see this Insight Protection option under Computer Settings in the Settings window.

When the Insight Protection is turned on, Norton Internet Security performs a traditional scan and an Insight Network scan simultaneously. The traditional scan uses the definitions from the local system, and the Insight Network scan uses the definitions that are hosted in the Cloud.

Threat detection based on the Cloud definitions is identical to the threat detection that is based on the local definitions. However, the Cloud definitions are specified with additional data about the threats that it detects which indicates that it has been obtained from the Internet. Definitions in the Cloud provide a generic name for the risk detected, but the local definitions provide the specific name for the risk detected. For example, if a Trojan horse is detected, the scan results of the Insight Protection might display Cloud.Trojan. However, the scan results of the local definition might display Trojan.Foo.

If the traditional scan completes while the Insight Network scan is still running, you can view the Performing Insight Network Scan progress status.


The Insight Network scan supports Quick Scan, single file scan, and Download Insight scan. It does not support Email Scan, Full System Scan, and Auto-Protect scan.

• Insight Network Quick Scan
  
  Norton Internet Security simultaneously performs a traditional Quick Scan and an Insight Network Quick Scan to scan the areas of your computer that the viruses often target. Norton Internet Security also performs an Insight Network Quick Scan simultaneously with an Idle Quick Scan.
  

  Note:

  The Insight Network scan does not support a Quick Scan that runs as a part of a Full System Scan or an Idle Full System Scan.

• Insight Network Single File Scan
  
  Norton Internet Security simultaneously performs a traditional Single File Scan and an Insight Network Single File Scan to scan a file on your computer. It also scans the files that are received through instant messenger programs. You can perform this scan by running an Insight Network scan on single file using the Run Custom Scan option on the Scans window.
  

  Note:

  Insight Network Single File Scan does not support Single File Scan for the Microsoft Office documents.

• Insight Network Context-Menu Scan
  
  When you right-click a file, the shortcut menu displays Norton Internet Security and then Insight Network Scan. You can use this command to scan a file using both local definitions and definitions that are hosted in the Cloud.
  

  Note:

  This Insight Network Scan command is available only for single file.